The Mississippi Business Journal articles from May 2005

The Mississippi Business Journal archives from May 2005

MEC saluting the troops: Tommy Hamill set to keynote 56th-annual gathering.
May 2, 2005... When Macon farmer Tommy Hamill relates the story of how he was kidnapped in Iraq and held in captivity for 24 days before escaping, inevitably a few cynics surface that believe the whole episode never happened. "They've said it was a...

Native son leading Simpson development organization.
May 2, 2005... MAGEE -- At first glance, it may seem that Brad White has disproved the saying "you can't go home again." White, whose roots in the area predate Simpson County, was recently named the executive director of the Simpson County Development...

High prescription bills hitting hard? Help is out there.
May 2, 2005... JACKSON -- Help is out there, you just have to know where to look. That's why more than 40 Mississippi groups have joined together to spread the word about prescription assistance programs that help people get the medicine they need. The...

Mudbug season brings boom for many businesses.
May 2, 2005... OCEAN SPRINGS -- Some people call them "mudbugs." While that might not sound very tasty, these mini lobsters called crawfish that make distinctive mounds of mud above their burrow homes are so popular on the Coast, and in many other communities...

Making tough choices now could spare family later.(As I See It)(Column)
May 2, 2005... As the nation watched intently, the Terri Schiavo drama played out to conclusion a few weeks ago. Opinions about how Ms. Schiavo's situation was handled vary from sympathetic and supportive to hostile and angry. Even President Bush and Congress...

Regaining momentum?(Perspective)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... As this issue of the Mississippi Business Journal went to press last week, the fate of the Momentum Mississippi economic development incentives plan remained uncertain. Hope remained that the legislation would be addressed in an...

Good mayors bring certain qualities to job.(From the Ground Up)
May 2, 2005... What are the personal qualities of a good mayor? It is a timely question given that this is the week for primary elections in Mississippi for mayors and other municipal officials. Also, only three weeks ago Time magazine named the best and...

Grand Casino Tunica.(People to Watch)(Steve Pairolero awarded)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Grand Casino Tunica's executive chef, Steve Pairolero was recently voted "Chef of the Year" by the American Culinary Federation, Memphis Chapter. The recognition is given to a member of the organization who exhibits dedication to community and...

Central Mississippi Medical Center.(People to Watch)(Rachel D. Crews appoionted)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Rachel D. Crews has recently been named the director of marketing and public relations at Central Mississippi Medical Center. Crews is a member of the Mississippi Jaycees who presented her with the Jaycee of the Year Award in 1998. She received...

Delta State University.(People to Watch)(Dr. Ted Solomon awarded)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Dr. Ted Solomon, of Cleveland, Delta State University (DSU) professor emeritus of speech and box office manager at the Bologna Performing Arts Center, is the recipient of the 2005 President's Award. This award is presented by the DSU president...

Land Bank of North Mississippi.(People to Watch)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Rickey L. Haynes with the Land Bank of North Mississippi in Senatobia was recognized by the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA) for 10 years of membership within the organization. Haynes is an agricultural...

The MetroJackson Chamber of Commerce won recognition for three major communications projects in the 2005 Public Relations Association of Mississippi Annual Prism Awards.(People to Watch)
May 2, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: The MetroJackson Chamber of Commerce won recognition for three major communications projects in the 2005 Public Relations Association of Mississippi Annual Prism Awards. Pictured above with the awards are...

Citizens National Bank.(People to Watch)(Howard Cornelius Jr. appointed)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Howard Cornelius Jr. has joined Citizens National Bank in Columbus as a senior vice president. Cornelius has over 40 years of lending experience and formerly served as a senior vice Cornelius president of lending for National Bank of Commerce...

Computer Outlet.(People to Watch)(Tony Crawford appointed)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Tony Crawford has been promoted to manager with the opening of Computer Outlet's newest location in Ridgeland. Crawford joined the Pearl Computer Outlet location with 10 years experience in computer network design, PC maintenance and repair...

Wesley Medical Center.(People to Watch)(Lisa Mader appointmented)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Lisa Mader is the new director of marketing at Wesley Medical Center in Hattiesburg. Mader has served as marketing and public relations director for the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) for the past two-and-a-half years. Mader served as...

National Bank of Commerce (NBC).(People to Watch)(Tommy Williams appointed)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Tommy Williams has been promoted to president of the Philadelphia Banking Center of NBC. Williams, who joined NBC in 1996, has over 20 years of banking experience and has served as senior vice president and senior credit officer at...

Maris, West & Baker Inc. (MWB).(People to Watch)(Rachael Roberts, Kelly Maloney and Angle Smith promoted)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Rachael Roberts, former account coordinator for MWB, has been promoted to assistant media buyer/planner for the company. Roberts has been with MWB since January 2004 and is a graduate of the University of Mississippi with a bachelor's degree in...

Williford, Gearhart & Knight Inc., engineers and surveyors.(People to Watch)(Bill Wall appointed)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Bill Wall, P.E., P.S., has joined the firm of Williford, Gearhart & Knight. A graduate of Mississippi State University, he holds a B.S. degree in civil engineering. Wall serves as a project manager for the Clinton office. Matt Rankin, P.S., has...

Keesler Federal Credit Union.(People to Watch)(appointments)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Keesler Federal Credit Union announces the volunteers who will serve on the 2005-2006 board of directors: Don McCormick--chairman, Tommy Adkins--vice chairman, Cynthia Payne Childers--treasurer, Joe Vanhooser--secretary, Dean Todd--member,...

Local, state and industry officials and an Indian chief joined the Rea family, owners of Mid-South Auction, as they cut the ribbon on the first new independently-owned auction to be built in the South in over five years.(People to Watch)
May 2, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Local, state and industry officials and an Indian chief joined the Rea family, owners of Mid-South Auction, as they cut the ribbon on the first new independently-owned auction to be built in the South in...

AmSouth Bank.(People to Watch)(Paulette Chavers and Tom Jenkins appointed)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Paulette Chavers has been named mortgage banking officer at AmSouth in Clinton. Chavers joined AmSouth from Southtrust Mortgage in Pensacola, Fla., Chavers where she served also as a mortgage loan originator. Tom Jenkins has been named...

Magnolia State Bank.(People to Watch)(Charlotte C. Aycock appointed)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Charlotte C. Aycock has joined Magnolia State Bank in Bay Springs as vice president and loan officer. Aycock, a lifelong resident of Jasper County, attended Jones County Junior College. She has 36 years of banking experience and holds several...

Peoples Holding Company now Renasant, McGraw chairman.(Strictly Business)(Renasant Corporation)
May 2, 2005... TUPELO -- Shareholders of The Peoples Holding Company have voted to rename the multi-state bank holding company Renasant Corporation. The announcement came at the company's annual shareholders meeting and followed an earlier decision to unify...

Beef plant gets offers.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... OAKLAND -- The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) has received purchase proposals for the idled Mississippi Beef Processors facility in this North Mississippi city. The entities that entered proposals were not disclosed. "We are...

Americans sentenced in China.(Strictly Business)
May 2, 2005... JACKSON -- According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi, two U.S. citizens have been convicted and sentenced in China for illegal Internet sales, a case that began at a Mississippi flea market. Randolph...

Desert Plastics bought.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... SUMMIT -- Wisconsin Film & Bag has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of idled Desert Plastics, LLC, in this Pike County city. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Under the agreement, Desert Plastics now operates under...

SkyCaddie makes history.(Strictly Business)
May 2, 2005... JACKSON -- The top three finishers at the Tight Lies Tour's Sprint Open in Baton Rouge, La., April 14-17 used the SkyCaddie next-generation GPS rangefinder to measure their distances during competition. Cody Freeman (winner), Adam Rubinson...

AmSouth sets new earnings record.(Strictly Business)
May 2, 2005... BIRMINGHAM, ALA. -- AmSouth Bancorporation reported record earnings for the first quarter ended March 31, 2005, of $0.50 per diluted share, compared to $0.45 per diluted share reported for the first quarter of 2004. Net income for the first...

MINACT gets Job Corps funds.(Strictly Business)(MINACT, a management and training company )(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... BATESVILLE -- The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded a contract worth in excess of $14 million to +MINACT Inc. for the continued operation of the Batesville Job Corps Center in Northwest Mississippi. Job Corps is a national residential...

Bio-Solutions buys ACT.(Strictly Business)(Bio-Solutions Manufacturing Inc.)(Applied Chemical Technology Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... HATTIESBURG -- Bio-Solutions Manufacturing Inc. has acquired Applied Chemical Technology Inc. (ACT) of Greentown, Pa. The transaction involves all intellectual property including, but not limited to, patents, trademarks, proprietary processes,...

Sienna breaks ground.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... GULFPORT -- Sienna, a development by Hathaway Development Company and Gomel-Burton Investments, held a groundbreaking ceremony April 21, 2005, beginning with the demolition of the old Wet Willy's Waterslide. Guests attending the...

President completes Broadwater agreement.(Strictly Business)(President Casinos Inc. acquires Broadwater Development LLP)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... BILOXI -- President Casinos Inc. has completed a sale and purchase agreement in connection with the sale and purchase of the owned and leased real property and businesses commonly known as the President Casino Broadwater Resort. The...

FA/22 to go into full production.(Strictly Business)(The Lockheed Martin F/A-22 Raptor fighter aircraft)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... MERIDIAN -- The Lockheed Martin F/A-22 Raptor fighter aircraft has been given the green light by U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition officials to enter into full-rate production. Components for the aircraft are produced in Meridian, as...

Momentum Mississippi petitioning guv.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... JACKSON -- Leaders of Momentum Mississippi are urging Gov. Haley Barbour to add its incentive legislation to his anticipated special session call. During the last regular session, the Legislature failed to approve the group's incentive package....

D&PL holding 'Dutch auction'.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... SCOTT -- Delta and Pine Land Company (D&PL) is commencing a modified "Dutch auction" tender offer for 1,739,130 shares of its common stock at a price per share of between $25 and $28.75. The company said it believes that the tender offer is...

Consumers confident in region.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Consumer confidence is up 35% from a year ago in the East South Central region (Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama), according to The Conference Board reports today. The area topped the nation's other eight regions over the last year....

'Contraflow' plan approved.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... JACKSON -- The three member Mississippi Transportation Commission recently approved the State of Louisiana's "contraflow" (lane reversal) request that asked the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) to contraflow the southbound lanes...

BancorpSouth Center, ALLTEL partner.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... TUPELO -- The BancorpSouth Center has named telecommunications provider ALLTEL as its official wireless provider. Under the partnership, tickets to events at the BancorpSouth Center can be purchased by making a free telephone call on any ALLTEL...

BellSouth package hits milestone.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... JACKSON -- According to BellSouth, more than 200,000 customers have added DIRECTV digital satellite television service to their BellSouth communications services packages since the company began offering the service in August 2004. During the...

Loeb leaving Parkway.(Strictly Business)(Marshall A. Loeb )(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... JACKSON -- Marshall A. Loeb has resigned from Parkway Properties Inc. as executive vice president and CFO. According to Parkway, Loeb, who has been CFO since November 2000, intends to join a non-competing real estate investment trust, but will...

Retzer Resources expanding.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... GREENVILLE -- Retzer Resources Inc. has acquired a lot located at 1227 South Main Street in this Washington County city. According to Mal Kretschmar, GRI, CRB, RIM, of Kretschmar Realty Inc., Retzer Resources plans to build an expansion on the...

CPA group to host conference.(Strictly Business)
May 2, 2005... JACKSON -- The Mississippi Society of CPAs will host the 2005 Mississippi Technology Conference May 16-17, 2005, at the Jackson Hilton. The event will feature 16 sessions led by instructors Will Fleenor, Val Steed, Bob Spencer and Tommy...

MSHIMA-backed bill signed.(Strictly Business)(Mississippi Health Information Management Association)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... JACKSON -- Leaders of the Mississippi Health Information Management Association (MSHIMA) were on hand recently when Gov. Haley Barbour signed House Bill 521, a bill introduced by the MSHIMA to update the Mississippi State Code from Medical...

Ohr-O'Keefe to host fundraiser.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... PASS CHRISTIAN -- The Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art will hold the 3rd Annual Derby Day Run for the Roses spring fundraiser at the home of Kent and Jenny Nicaud in Pass Christian May 7, 2005 from 2:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. This year the event is on...

Teen program receives grant.(Strictly Business)(The Nationwide Foundation donates to Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... JACKSON -- The Nationwide Foundation has awarded a grant of $10,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi. The grant will be used to provide a Teen Career Preparation program for club members. The Teen Career Preparation program...

Researchers, farmers eye herb production in North Mississippi.
May 2, 2005... OXFORD -- Herbal tea or echinacea anyone? Herbal products are increasing in popularity, and the University of Mississippi wants to help state farmers do more to cash in on the trend by developing a cottage industry in Mississippi with...

Ramey Foundation awards scholarships.(Strictly Business)
May 2, 2005... RIDGELAND -- The Tommy Ramey Foundation recently announced its 2005 scholarship winners. The foundation is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization established to assist deserving students in the marketing and culinary fields. The scholarships...

FGH receives donation.(Forrest General Hospital)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... HATTIESBURG -- The Brett Favre Fourward Foundation recently presented Forrest General Hospital with a check for $117,505 to be used for women in their treatment of breast cancer. The proceeds were raised at the "Night of Faith" concert...

Salvation Army starts campaign.(Strictly Business)(The Salvation Army of Columbus)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... COLUMBUS -- The Salvation Army of Columbus recently began the Challenge Campaign, which provides a dollar-for-dollar match by Charles and Hilda Anderson, founder and former CEO of Books-A-Million, for all donations to The Salvation Army. ...

Molpus family celebrates 100 years in timber business.
May 2, 2005... The Molpus family turned tragedy into triumph to hit the 100-year milestone of business in the robust timber industry. "It's so significant to our family that we're celebrating a century of business because it's been quite a roller coaster...

Groundbreaking of $16.5-million multi-use project anticipated.
May 2, 2005... HATTIESBURG -- A May groundbreaking is scheduled for the Summit, a $16.5-million, multi-use project being built by Hattiesburg developer Nick Welch and two partners from Heritage Properties Inc. of Jackson. Infrastructure work is also...

Mississippi natives collaborate on bestseller: decision on film deal expected 'fairly soon.'.
May 2, 2005... BRANDON -- When the international press broke the story April 9, 2004, that a truck convoy delivering fuel to the U.S. armed forces in Iraq had been attacked, and that convoy commander and Macon farmer Tommy Hamill had been wounded and taken...

Coast's economy, population and employment continues to grow.
May 2, 2005... LONG BEACH -- The Coast's economy is growing and will continue to do so, according to the 2004 annual report presented to business leaders by the Harrison County Development Commission on the Gulf Park Campus of the University of Southern...

As changes are implemented, bankruptcy attorneys gear up.(Focus: Professionals)
May 2, 2005... Bankruptcy attorneys are gearing up for an anticipated blizzard of business before the new federal bankruptcy overhaul bill goes into effect later this year. The American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) reported that between 30,000 and 210,000...

AG Jim Hood plans publications to deter work, school violence.(Focus: Professionals)
May 2, 2005... When Jim Hood was a little boy, he didn't dream of growing up to hold the position of being the state's top lawyer, the attorney general. He still didn't dream of that after graduating from law school. That's because as a kid, he didn't have a...

New federal law also impacts business bankruptcies.(Focus: Law & Accounting)
May 2, 2005... The Commercial Law League of America, which has a bankruptcy section comprised of 1,200 lawyers and judges, argued that "abusive filings (will) continue unabated" under the new Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention, Consumer Protection Act, signed into...

Law firms.(Directory)(Illustration)
May 2, 2005... Firm/Phone/Address/ Attorneys/ Top Officer/Title/FAX Partners Butler, Snow, O'Mara, Stevens & 149 Cannada, PLLC--(601) 948-5711 70 210 E. Capitol St., 17th Fl., Jackson, MS...

Law school grads may face challenging job market: exceedingly large classes find there are only so many jobs to go around.(Focus: Professionals)
May 2, 2005... When the economy cycled through a downturn a few years ago, a lot of college graduates who would have gone into the workforce didn't even apply for a job. "They just applied for graduate school," said Joyce Whittington, director of career...

Accounting firms find ways to relax after April 15.(Focus: Law & Accounting)
May 2, 2005... Many accountants look forward to 5 p.m. April 15 each year. That's when tax work is complete, and they are free to take a breather and do things they might have put on hold for a few hectic weeks (and months). The firm of Alexander, Van...

Coast CPA takes time to give back to community.(Focus: Professionals)
May 2, 2005... BAY ST. LOUIS -- Chuck Benvenutti believes that a rising tide lifts all boats. That's one of his favorite sayings and something he believes makes a difference. It's also a reason he finds time to be involved with a multitude of community...

Firm helping medical practices find 'lost' revenue.(Focus: Law & Accounting)(GranthamPoole CPA - Accounting firm)
May 2, 2005... Jackson-based GranthamPoole CPAs has developed a new software and analytical services team targeting medical practices. The accounting firm's healthcare solutions division recently launched a novel software-based service aimed at helping...

Mississippi CPA offers plan for 'right tracking' career.(Focus: Law & Accounting)
May 2, 2005... "Creating Value, Your 90 Day Plan to Right Tracking Your Career," by Joey D. Havens, CPA, and Joseph S. Paul, Ph.D., is getting attention in business circles. The title was recently named the recommended book of the month by...

Smith & Carson expands capabilities with Jackson acquisition: Atlanta private investigative firm acquires Mississippi Litigation Solutions.(Focus: Professionals)
May 2, 2005... Atlanta-based Smith & Carson, Inc., a national private investigative firm that focuses on the defense side of litigation, recently acquired the Jackson-based technology firm Mississippi Litigation Solutions (MLS) to manage and support trial...

World-class customer service a critical concern.(Focus: Law & Accounting)
May 2, 2005... No business can survive without a fixation on service. Businesses should refocus their attention on service. No matter how good your product or service, the satisfaction of the customer will be significantly diminished if the delivery of...

'Cosmopolitan Mayberry' condo sales increasingly popular.
May 2, 2005... OXFORD--How about owning a condo in "cosmopolitan Mayberry?" Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine named the City of Oxford as an ideal retirement destination in its March 2005 issue, affectionately calling Oxford a "cosmopolitan...

Busy business folks find time for 'Professional Fitness'.
May 2, 2005... JACKSON -- When personal trainer Donna Read branched on her own in the 1990s to focus exclusively on helping businesspeople stay fit, she led one-on-one fitness sessions with clients in their homes and offices. Today, Read, president of...

State's literary history plays role in tourism development: business community sees important economic impact.(Book: Business)
May 2, 2005... In March, Mary Alice White, director of the Eudora Welty House, gave a crew from Turner television a tour of the garden that the late author tended from the 1920s until her death. The preservation and celebration of Mississippi's literary...

'Full speed ahead' for soybeans.
May 2, 2005... STARKVILLE -- Soybean growers will not be deterred by the threat of Asian rust or spring rains as they work to plant the 2005 crop as soon as possible. Alan Blaine, soybean specialist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service,...

Think Mississippi for meetings, conventions, tourism.(As I See It)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Out this week, Meetings, Conventions & Tourism 2005 has grown significantly since the inaugural publication was released some years ago. This year, the Mississippi Business Journal's special project, editorial and production staffers took...

Army of people, services, products involved in successful events.
May 2, 2005... Events don't just happen, and no one has a magic wand to wave to make them happen. It takes an army of people, products, talents, planning, time and details to pull off successful events. Plan ahead is the mantra that's repeated over and over...

Successful meeting takes planning, clear objectives and promotion.
May 2, 2005... If you want to plan a really good meeting or convention, better take notes. Lots of them. "The biggest tip for planning a successful meeting is detail, detail, detail," said Allyson M. Wynn, owner of The Wynning Experience, an event...

Have a budget, book early and provide information, caterers advise.(Simply Southern and Pretty Presentations )
May 2, 2005... Food plays a starring role in many business and social events. That means caterers are crucial to an event's success. "Catering helps sell the whole event," says Lee Martineau of Simply Southern Catering of Ellisville. "It makes people want...

Familiar faces, higher standards greet hotel's guests.
May 2, 2005... After Columbia-Sussex Corporation acquired the Crowne Plaza Jackson Hotel Downtown from FelCor Lodging Trust, the hotel staff endured months of rigorous training before it was officially declared a Marriott property last August. "The...

Monmouth Plantation adds another world-class award.
May 2, 2005... NATCHEZ -- Earlier this year, Travel + Leisure, the world's leading travel magazine, gave Monmouth Plantation recognition that surprised none in the Mississippi tourism industry. Travel + Leisure selected the Natchez historic landmark as...

Trademart offers big space for those really big events.( Mississippi Trademart)
May 2, 2005... JACKSON -- It's a typical day at the Mississippi Trademart. On this early spring morning, the parking lot is full and the show floor is packed with exhibitors and attendees as the Mississippi Rural Water Association holds its convention and...

Dunleith: A secret worth discovering by biz travelers.
May 2, 2005... NATCHEZ -- When Rose Jones cooks up Southern fried chicken for lunch at the Dunleith Historic Inn in Natchez, few guests can resist the temptation to sample the chef's deliciously crunchy cuisine. The good-ol'-Southern cooking is merely...

Mississippi courses continue to garner acclaim: state a rising star of nation's golf destinations.
May 2, 2005... Earlier this year, The Golf Insider, one of the industry's leading golf and traveling rating publications, named Mississippi the "Best Up-and-Coming Domestic Golf Destination of the Year." The magazine's annual special publication, "The...

Southern Farm Bureau Classic teeing off in October: PGA Tour event in its 38th year.
May 2, 2005... MADISON -- With a new management team working behind the scenes for the second consecutive year, organizers are mulling ways to boost interest among non-golf aficionados for the 38th annual PGA golf tournament October 3-9 at the Annandale Golf...

Racing across the wide-open Delta summer sky.
May 2, 2005... TUNICA -- After several years of helping produce and televise the world's fastest motor sporting event in Reno, Nev., Memphis native Jeff Landers saw an opportunity to bring the event to Tunica, a casino boomtown built around miles of cotton...

Cultural heritage tourists looking for authenticity find it.
May 2, 2005... It's a safe bet that everyone in Mississippi has seen a cotton field, but you'd be surprised how many calls come in to the Mississippi tourism office from people who want to see a cotton field and pick a boll, just to say they've done it. ...

Meeting place central in the works for downtown: Pascagoula Street comes alive with construction of TelCom and convention centers.(Convention and Visitors Bureau )
May 2, 2005... JACKSON -- Ten years ago, even five years ago, who could have guessed that downtown would have more than 300,000 square feet of premier meeting space just steps away from blues clubs, restaurants and historic Union Station? The Mississippi...

Brighter days ahead for tourism industry; let's get going!(Backstage Pass)(Travel Price Index)(Traveler Sentiment Index)
May 2, 2005... At long last, after enduring a sharp downturn in travel caused by the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the U.S., the nearly $600-billion tourism industry is poised for brighter days ahead, and Mississippi has the potential to garner a...

Lake Tiak O'Khata remains an East Mississippi favorite.(Lake Tiak O'Khata)
May 2, 2005... LOUISVILLE -- Since 1957, Lake Tiak O'Khata has offered accommodations to area visitors taking in the sights at the 100-acre lake, built on family land in Winston County. Almost 50 years later, the facility continues to prosper with hotel...

History, convention space, revitalization converge: Vicksburg rolls it all into one to attract meeting goers.(Vicksburg Convention Center)
May 2, 2005... VICKSBURG -- Ten years ago, this historic Mississippi River city was turning away the really large conventions because there was simply nowhere to put them. The City Auditorium and the local hotels could handle some events, but the very large...