tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24474387830014043852024-03-19T09:03:45.261-05:00Jackson JambalayaA website of news, commentary, culture, & jackassery in the Jackson, Mississippi area. Kingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.comBlogger23222125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-29329618013955100702024-03-19T09:00:00.010-05:002024-03-19T09:00:01.105-05:00Jury? What Jury? Wooten Throws Out Guilty Verdict<p> It's a pitiful state of affairs when cops are locked up and killers are set free but such has been taking place in the courtroom of Hinds County Circuit Judge Adrienne Wooten. A jury convicted T'Quaris Jones of murder recently but remains free after Judge Wooten threw out the verdict. <span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p>JPD arrested T'Quaris Jones on April 30, 2018 for murder in the shooting
death of his cousin. Jones allegedly shot his cousin <b>20 times</b> with an
AR-15. A Jackson Municipal Court Judge denied bond for Jones but
Circuit Judge Tomie Green lowered it to $20,000. A grand jury indicted
him for first degree murder in May 2019. <b>Circuit Judge Adrienne
Wooten refused to increase his bond even after prosecutors asked her to
do so. She also denied their request to require him to wear an ankle
monitor.</b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://ballotaccessmississippi.org/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1800" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEDffzUA6e0Ukcf6gq7nR5Vn9ZR1JYfmFOw6LZXe-kU-chDiYgZCxBc4cflbNVkvPzHFXpROY6j_ADLQv0wjET1OGDkIL7DXUjnDKV-3I_Dtg5u9DBLyCcuBP1FwUfPZ8M2U5tAyINgoP3w_GUadPU5o8_Cp7Fv0vU8nhb2li4Mna9mQdxRpFfg_FpL0/w400-h178/BAM_Empower_450x200.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><b><br /> </b><br />
Jones apparently could not stay out of trouble despite his morbidly good
fortune. T-Q got into a shootout at Sykes Manor Apartments in March.
His father actually delivered the Glock to JPD headquarters. A police
report states:<p></p><blockquote class="tr_bq">
Mr. Jones stated that the black male exited the Charger and stated "What
you doing out here, you shot my cousin". Mr. Jones stated that he
killed black male, Justin Harper in April of 2018. Mr. Jones stated that
the black male began to fire several shots at him. Mr. Jones stated
that he took cover on the passenger side of his vehicle and returned
fire from his Glock 17. Mr. Jones stated while returning fire, another
unknown black male approached him from behind and began to fire
shots at him. Mr. Jones stated that he was struck in the right ankle.
Mr. Jones stated that it was at this time he ran to his house at 3318
Rickay Drive. Mr. Jones stated that he was taken to the hospital by
private vehicle. Mr. Jones stated that he did not recognize either
suspect. When asked where his gun was at, he stated that he had given
it to his friend Shawn Dixon, black male. </blockquote><p>
Jones claimed self-defense. Judge Green's original bond order stated
he could not possess firearms. Judge Wooten said the order expired so no violation occurred. Since there were no conditions for Jones to violate, the south Jackson judge allowed him to remain free. </p><p>Years passed and Jones finally went to trial in January. The jury found Jones guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced him to life in prison. However, Judge Wooten had other ideas. </p><p>Jones filed a motion for judgement notwithstanding the verdict. Judge Wooten granted the motion on March 6 but did not file the order until yesterday. Judge Wooten justified her ruling: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1hfEZ7jPJWVaipbPPCSK0DCvFOEz9I4gq6UC3WPQsBusIvjGzoP_3gZsRUn_PtFVgjyCNKn4dcXOub9HBmVJ2YAfce1hyphenhypheny3w-72TMTTDGsHCZGubylq6kgk2EuEmXv3m_TDJFUIcbDbBpMFXo3kKj4PCJ_XWGFUFGMtfQHf0il2SFckjbv8b8w8KYmA/s719/Tquaris%20jones%20order%201.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="719" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1hfEZ7jPJWVaipbPPCSK0DCvFOEz9I4gq6UC3WPQsBusIvjGzoP_3gZsRUn_PtFVgjyCNKn4dcXOub9HBmVJ2YAfce1hyphenhypheny3w-72TMTTDGsHCZGubylq6kgk2EuEmXv3m_TDJFUIcbDbBpMFXo3kKj4PCJ_XWGFUFGMtfQHf0il2SFckjbv8b8w8KYmA/w400-h156/Tquaris%20jones%20order%201.png" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>The Court held "the State failed to investigate the Defendant's defense and failed to put on evidence to the contrary during the trial of this case. The jury did not receive evidence on an element that the State had the burden or proving beyond a reasonable doubt." <br /></p><p>Judge Wooten said Jones should get a new trial. The defendant remains free on bond. <br /></p><p><b>Earlier Posts</b></p><p><b><a href="http://kingfish1935.blogspot.com/2024/01/killer-finally-gets-justice.html">Killer finally gets justice. </a></b></p><p><b><a href="http://kingfish1935.blogspot.com/2020/06/murder-suspect-keeps-get-out-of-jail.html">Catch & release: murder edition</a> </b></p><p><b><a href="http://kingfish1935.blogspot.com/2020/06/what-does-it-take-to-get-locked-up-in.html">What does it take to get locked up in Hinds County? </a></b></p><p><b><a href="http://kingfish1935.blogspot.com/2019/06/20000-bond-for-capital-murder.html">$20,000 bond for capital murder? </a> </b><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p>
<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="0.75" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_15007" scrolling="no" src="https://www.scribd.com/embeds/714723046/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-0fQsX1sIHgowauXR6W50" title="TQ file" width="100%"></iframe><p></p>Kingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-2848311465164600692024-03-19T08:30:00.004-05:002024-03-19T08:30:01.005-05:00Goons Start Facing the Music Today<p> The Goon Squad sentencing starts today in U.S. District Court before U.S. District Judge Tom Lee. <span></span></p><a name='more'></a> <p></p><p>Former Rankin County deputy Hunter Elward stands in the stocks at 9 while Jeffrey Middleton will take his turn at 1. Christian Dedmon and Daniel Opdyke face justice tomorrow. Brett McAlpin and Joshua Hartfield step up to the plate Thursday. </p><p>Goon Squad victims Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Parker stood behind their attorneys, Trent Walker and Malik Shabazz at a press conference today as they called for Judge Lee to throw the book at the Goons and issue the maximum sentences to them all. </p><p>Yours truly will be in the courtroom covering the sentencing. Thus there will be some delay in approving comments but the sentences will be posted as soon as possible after they are announced. JJ has a couple of surprises in store for readers as well. </p><p>One further note. Keep in mind there is a second case involving a white victim. The Justice Department has provided little information about the case but from all indications, the case seems to be as bad as the better known one involving Jenkins and Parker. <br /></p>
<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" title="Dedmon Bill of Info" src="https://www.scribd.com/embeds/662846639/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-iSfL385HSNPcCLrlJpVY" tabindex="0" data-auto-height="true" data-aspect-ratio="0.7700854700854701" scrolling="no" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe>Kingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-39471111134504420852024-03-18T16:20:00.001-05:002024-03-18T16:20:06.871-05:00EPA Bayonets the Jackson Wounded<p>The old adage about auditors bayoneting the wounding remains true at JXN Water. WLBT reported: <span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p></p><blockquote><p>A federal judge is voicing frustration
over a change in EPA policy that could slow down how quickly contractors
working to restore Jackson’s beleaguered water system can get paid. </p><p class="text | article-text">At
a status conference on Monday, U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate said
he is considering handing down a notice to inform contractors working on
behalf of JXN Water that it could take longer to be reimbursed for work
after the EPA gave notice that it would no longer provide up-front
money for infrastructure repairs.</p><p class="text | article-text">“We
apparently had some bureaucrats in D.C. do something else without any
real explanation as to why they’re doing it,” he said. “We have made a
lot of progress here. We’re just trying to keep that progress going, and
we can’t keep it going if we don’t pay the vendors.”....</p><p class="text | article-text">On Monday, he told the judge he has about $10 million in outstanding invoices, with just $2 million in cash on hand.</p><p class="text | article-text">“It
may not sound like much, but I have to review the invoice, forward the
invoice to the EPA... If they have a question, I have to [research] it,
and I have to pester them week after week on when I will see money to
pay my contractors,” he said. “We’re going broke with $450 million in
the bank.”</p><p class="text | article-text">At the heart of the matter
is how quickly Henifin can access $115 million in federal emergency
grant funds awarded to Jackson under the Safe Drinking Water Act....</p><p class="text | article-text">A compliance assistance team visited in November to find out why so much
had been spent. At the time, the agency was concerned that Henifin
could not tie every drawdown to a specific invoice. ....</p><p class="text | article-text">Following the February hearing, Henifin
and Wingate thought the matter had been resolved, with EPA depositing
$10 million in the account to allow Henifin to pay current bills. </p><p class="text | article-text">However,
on March 15, the EPA Office of Grants and Debarment notified Henifin
that the agency was switching to a reimbursement program, effective
immediately. </p><p class="text | article-text">“I was out of money the
first week of March. Now, there are $10 million in outstanding invoices
in the Office of Water, and they’re asking questions. If they decide to
dispute the invoices or not pay, I have no reserves to pay,” he said. “I
put contractors in the field, told them to do the work, and have
nothing to pay them.”... <a href="https://www.wlbt.com/2024/03/18/were-going-broke-with-450m-bank-henifin-judge-frustrated-over-change-epa-grant-policy/">Rest of article. </a></p></blockquote><p class="text | article-text"><a href="https://www.wlbt.com/2024/03/18/were-going-broke-with-450m-bank-henifin-judge-frustrated-over-change-epa-grant-policy/"></a></p><p class="text | article-text"> Bureaucrats screwing things up. Imagine that. Right. <br /></p><p class="text | article-text"></p>Kingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-15797549188415686622024-03-18T16:10:00.003-05:002024-03-18T16:10:23.057-05:00Detainee Dead<p><i>Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones issued the following statement. </i><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><div><div class="" dir="auto"><div class="x1iorvi4 x1pi30zi x1swvt13 xjkvuk6" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id=":rrn:"><div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf xz62fqu x16ldp7u"><div class="xu06os2 x1ok221b"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"><div class="xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Raymond Detention Center Death Investigation: Detainee-Kendravius Eldridge, B/M, 29, was found unresponsive in his cell this morning at 9:10 and pronounced deceased. MS Bureau of Investigation is conducting the investigation. Cause of death is unknown, foul play not suspected.</div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div><div><div class="x168nmei x13lgxp2 x30kzoy x9jhf4c x6ikm8r x10wlt62" data-visualcompletion="ignore-dynamic"><div><div><div><div class="x1n2onr6"><div class="x6s0dn4 xi81zsa x78zum5 x6prxxf x13a6bvl xvq8zen xdj266r xktsk01 xat24cr x1d52u69 x889kno x4uap5 x1a8lsjc xkhd6sd xdppsyt"><div class="x6s0dn4 x78zum5 x1iyjqo2 x6ikm8r x10wlt62"><span aria-label="See who reacted to this" class="x1ja2u2z" role="toolbar"><span class="x6s0dn4 x78zum5 x1e558r4" id=":rrq:"><span class="x6zyg47 x1xm1mqw xpn8fn3 xtct9fg x13zp6kq x1mcfq15 xrosliz x1wb7cse x13fuv20 xu3j5b3 x1q0q8m5 x26u7qi xamhcws xol2nv xlxy82 x19p7ews xmix8c7 x139jcc6 x1n2onr6 x1xp8n7a xhtitgo"><span class="x12myldv x1udsgas xrc8dwe xxxhv2y x1rg5ohu xmix8c7 x1xp8n7a"><span class="x4k7w5x x1h91t0o x1h9r5lt x1jfb8zj xv2umb2 x1beo9mf xaigb6o x12ejxvf x3igimt xarpa2k xedcshv x1lytzrv x1t2pt76 x7ja8zs x1qrby5j"></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><span aria-label="See who reacted to this" class="x1ja2u2z" role="toolbar"><span class="x6s0dn4 x78zum5 x1e558r4" id=":rrq:"><span class="x6zyg47 x1xm1mqw xpn8fn3 xtct9fg x13zp6kq x1mcfq15 xrosliz x1wb7cse x13fuv20 xu3j5b3 x1q0q8m5 x26u7qi xamhcws xol2nv xlxy82 x19p7ews xmix8c7 x139jcc6 x1n2onr6 x1xp8n7a x1vjfegm"><span class="x12myldv x1udsgas xrc8dwe xxxhv2y x1rg5ohu xmix8c7 x1xp8n7a"><span class="x4k7w5x x1h91t0o x1h9r5lt x1jfb8zj xv2umb2 x1beo9mf xaigb6o x12ejxvf x3igimt xarpa2k xedcshv x1lytzrv x1t2pt76 x7ja8zs x1qrby5j"></span></span></span></span></span><span aria-label="See who reacted to this" class="x1ja2u2z" role="toolbar"><span class="x6s0dn4 x78zum5 x1e558r4" id=":rrq:"><span class="x6zyg47 x1xm1mqw xpn8fn3 xtct9fg x13zp6kq x1mcfq15 xrosliz x1wb7cse x13fuv20 xu3j5b3 x1q0q8m5 x26u7qi xamhcws xol2nv xlxy82 x19p7ews xmix8c7 x139jcc6 x1n2onr6 x1xp8n7a x1ja2u2z"><span class="x12myldv x1udsgas xrc8dwe xxxhv2y x1rg5ohu xmix8c7 x1xp8n7a"><span class="x4k7w5x x1h91t0o x1h9r5lt x1jfb8zj xv2umb2 x1beo9mf xaigb6o x12ejxvf x3igimt xarpa2k xedcshv x1lytzrv x1t2pt76 x7ja8zs x1qrby5j"></span></span></span></span></span><div class=""><span class="x4k7w5x x1h91t0o x1h9r5lt x1jfb8zj xv2umb2 x1beo9mf xaigb6o x12ejxvf x3igimt xarpa2k xedcshv x1lytzrv x1t2pt76 x7ja8zs x1qrby5j"><br /></span></div><p></p>Kingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-5727300134752639312024-03-18T08:58:00.000-05:002024-03-18T08:58:01.999-05:00PERS Bill Tries to Change Board, Rescind Employer Rate Hike<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> The Board of Trustees for the Mississippi Public Employees Retirement System issued the following statement. <span></span></i></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: repeat white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The PERS Board opposes <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2024/pdf/history/HB/HB1590.xml&source=gmail&ust=1710815920152000&usg=AOvVaw1qWJMwMHvbjBfYKUGBnKnf" href="http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2024/pdf/history/HB/HB1590.xml" target="_blank">House Bill 1590</a>, which restructures the PERS Board with political appointees and prohibits the necessary funding for the retirement system.<u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: repeat white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: repeat white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Why We, as the PERS Board, Object to the New Board Composition HB 1590<u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="m_3501598564565054299MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: repeat white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 27pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">·<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">Most of the new trustees would be appointed by politicians rather than elected by the membership.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="m_3501598564565054299MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 27pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">·<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">Any change in leadership for a plan serving roughly 10 percent of the state’s population should be done openly and transparently, free from insinuation that the fund has been mismanaged.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="m_3501598564565054299MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 27pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">·<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">This change has the appearance of an attempt to politicize the PERS Board.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="m_3501598564565054299MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt 27pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">·<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">This change would indirectly shift more power to politicians, in effect turning control over to the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, especially since all appointments would be with advice and consent of the Senate.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="m_3501598564565054299MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 27pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">·<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">Currently, eight of 10 PERS trustees are elected by the membership. Under HB 1590, this would be reduced to only two of 11, which significantly disenfranchises more than 300,000 members who are directly impacted by the Board’s management.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="m_3501598564565054299MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt 27pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">·<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">Removing most of the current Board members results in the loss of institutional knowledge and continuity.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Investments under the Oversight of the Current PERS Board<u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="m_3501598564565054299MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 27pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">·<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">There are currently more than $30 billion in assets.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="m_3501598564565054299MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 27pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">·<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">As of June 30, 2023, the 5-, 10-, and 15-year returns exceeded most other public pension plans.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="m_3501598564565054299MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 27pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">·<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">Ending December 31, 2023, the 15-year return for PERS outperformed 98 percent of other plans in our peer group.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="m_3501598564565054299MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt 27pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">·<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">Last fiscal year, the investment manager fees were only $.31 for every $100 under management; this is less than 75 percent of our peer group.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stability, Continuity, and Resiliency of the Plan under the Oversight of the Current PERS Board<u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="m_3501598564565054299MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt 27pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">·<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">The current board structure has been in place for many years and the System has proven resilient, continuing to pay benefits through the adversity of the Dot Com Bubble, Great Recession, and the COVID-19 Pandemic.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="m_3501598564565054299MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt 27pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">·<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">The PERS board members are fiduciaries for the trust fund with a sworn duty and loyalty to the membership.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="m_3501598564565054299MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 27pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">·<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">The current Board has acted with integrity and dedication in carrying out its statutory/fiduciary duties; in administering the benefits as prescribed in law while following the recommendations of multiple actuaries and other expert advisors; in making recommendations to help the situation; and in providing numerous scenarios at the Legislature’s request.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="m_3501598564565054299MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt 27pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">·<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">These actuaries and other advisors are also fiduciaries to the System.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="m_3501598564565054299MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt 27pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="m_3501598564565054299MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt 27pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://deltahealthalliance.org/find-a-program/deer-creek-promise-community/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="450" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpGu6yWQmfkmrvGe8WrQYbH9UCU94r6z2zZlmJ5_nWw6Pr8EqIjCVmXIZy9EYdBDBXVOL2oZLtPY3MBKGxPQKl8S6zcW1Ew0sehQzgZPphyphenhyphenRHnURPWQsHR5774bp-EgIUBKHwYyOJSFer_aO4ksCMGrf9CQmJmOaolbw8ilff11_uHrTLVdG3FWmRXZk/w400-h178/DHA_Kingfish41_450x200.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">HB 1590 Prevents Necessary Funding<u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="m_3501598564565054299MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 27pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">·<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">HB 1590 prevents the essential funding as recommended by the actuary. <u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="m_3501598564565054299MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 27pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">·<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">As fiduciaries, we believe this is unacceptable.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="m_3501598564565054299MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 27pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">·<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="line-height: 14px;">The Board’s funding recommendation was for a 5 percent employer contribution rate increase spread over three years and consideration of a cash infusion or additional funding by the Legislature.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="m_3501598564565054299MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 15.4px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt 27pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt; line-height: 14px;">·<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt; line-height: 14px;">By rejecting the Board’s proposed rate increase, this approach not only would jeopardize the membership, it would also hurt all taxpayers. The longer the plan goes without proper funding, the more it costs and the harder it gets, leaving future citizens with the liability. (See actuarial valuations,</span><span style="line-height: 14px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.pers.ms.gov/financial-overview&source=gmail&ust=1710815920152000&usg=AOvVaw1SyYKrFWUh7sTiiktaosTw" href="http://www.pers.ms.gov/financial-overview" target="_blank"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">www.pers.ms.gov/financial-<wbr></wbr>overview</span></a><span class="m_3501598564565054299MsoCommentReference"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt; line-height: 14px;">.</span></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt; line-height: 14px;">)<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is critically important that you contact </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.legislature.ms.gov/legislators/senators/&source=gmail&ust=1710815920152000&usg=AOvVaw0JguUEHDdBIJ-6D42JJ8Ni" href="https://www.legislature.ms.gov/legislators/senators/" target="_blank">your state senator</a><span style="font-size: small;"> and senators on the</span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.legislature.ms.gov/committees/senate-committees/&source=gmail&ust=1710815920152000&usg=AOvVaw0hdR8m-DhwvHh-shC-VKs6" href="https://www.legislature.ms.gov/committees/senate-committees/" target="_blank">Senate Government Structure Committee</a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>right away to relay your thoughts on this crucial and time-sensitive matter.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Kingfish note: </b>Th<span face="Arial, sans-serif">e Hous</span>e passed HB #1590. State Representative Hank Zuber authored the bill. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Trustees are elected by the retirees although the Governor and State Treasurer have seats on the Board as well. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The bill changes the composition of the Board. The proposed Board will have 11 trus</span>tees comprised of: </span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Commissioner of Revenue</span></li><li style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span style="font-family: inherit;">State Treasurer</span></li><li style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span style="font-family: inherit;">4 members appointed by Governor</span></li><li style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3 members appointed by Lieutenant Governor </span></li><li style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A Retiree elected by the retirees</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">A member of the system with at least 10 years of </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">credible</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"> service elected by members</span></span></li></ul><div><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: inherit;">Tne new appointments would be made by May 31, 2024. The new trustees assume their positions on July 1, 2024. The Senate must confirm all nominees of Governor and Lieutenant Governor. Um, why? </span></span></div><div><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">The Governor's and Lieutenant Governor's appointees must "</span></span><span>knowledge and understanding of the investment of financial assets and of the principles of a retirement plan, as either a participant or an employer."</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>While the proposed changes to the board drew most of the press release's </span><span>attention, there is a major change tucked away in the back of the bill. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The PERS Board of Trustees approved an increase of the employer contribution rate from 17.4$ to 22.4% in December 2022. After considerable backlash from local governments, the Board voted to phase in the rate hike over a three-year period. However, the bill has other ideas about the rate hike. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">HB #1590 states: </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <b>the increase in the employer's contribution rate that is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2024, is rescinded and shall not take effect, and the board shall not provide for any increase in the employer's contribution rate through June 30, 2024</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b></b>.There is just one problem. IF there is no rate hike, the funding level will fall. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsFR57IMeU34xa99eVl-t6AkTn5iKDVdPNkvr268vOPSGLqTt6pfbuqQAMklthBx8VmAA3V6u4K00WzouioNlUGyfYHtCLs_6KZN_HP1J8Bf1sUrjwtkzhgAUQGSmhbuGhchrhr3Bf3qTdwwdWVjFZ3smdq-ZwddQ9yGhUzyOV2a-K7QeSmxMkM3r/s400/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-19%20at%2010.39.54%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="400" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsFR57IMeU34xa99eVl-t6AkTn5iKDVdPNkvr268vOPSGLqTt6pfbuqQAMklthBx8VmAA3V6u4K00WzouioNlUGyfYHtCLs_6KZN_HP1J8Bf1sUrjwtkzhgAUQGSmhbuGhchrhr3Bf3qTdwwdWVjFZ3smdq-ZwddQ9yGhUzyOV2a-K7QeSmxMkM3r/w400-h280/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-19%20at%2010.39.54%20AM.png" width="400" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">So what will the legislature do if there is no rate hike? What changes should be made to PERS to delay actuarial doomsday? </span><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2024/pdf/history/HB/HB1590.xml"><b>History & text of bill. </b></a><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Kingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.com75tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-23399705165794323782024-03-17T17:30:00.003-05:002024-03-17T17:30:39.806-05:00Straight from the Hood<p> Our Yankee blogger, Peter Santenello, wrapped up his fact-finding tour of the Mississippi Delta and moved on to where else but...... Jackson. Thankfully, he didn't try to do a shock video but engaged a Jacksonian, Dr. Tommie Mabry, who provided some thoughtful commentary as they toured the Bold New City. Check it out. <span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><br /></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RTMsQ7YUFss?si=Td0b67nPJbcF3bPQ" title="YouTube video player" width="500"></iframe>Kingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-33396660311141145952024-03-17T10:26:00.000-05:002024-03-17T10:26:01.442-05:00Whither Should the Zode Dither??<div>"Did I ever tell you about the young Zode who came to two signs at the fork in the road?" As the story goes, the Zode dithered and dithered until he withered. Using the Dr. Seuss classic, the late Dr. Frank Pollard discussed how dithering and dithering will cause one to wither spiritually in the 1996 sermon posted below. Indecision itself becomes decision. Playing it safe is rarely safe. It's one of Dr. Pollard's better sermons, and yes, he recited the entire story as Dr. Suess story time met <i>The Baptist Hour</i>. Enjoy. <span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ib8_0p5dctQ?si=Dp_JjfRReH8YT5yx" title="YouTube video player" width="500"></iframe><p></p>
<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Zode in the Road</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">by Dr. Seuss</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Did I ever tell you about the young Zode,</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">Who came to two signs at the fork in the road?</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">One said to Place One, and the other, Place Two.</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">So the Zode had to make up his mind what to do.</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">Well…the Zode scratched his head, and his chin and his pants.</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">And he said to himself, “I’ll be taking a chance</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">If I go to Place One. Now, that place may be hot!</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">And so, how do I know if I’ll like it or not?</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">On the other hand though, I’ll be sort of a fool</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">If I go to Place Two and find it too cool.</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">In that case I may catch a chill and turn blue!</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">So, maybe Place One is the best, not Place Two,</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">But then again, what if Place One is too high?</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">I may catch a terrible earache and die!</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">So Place Two may be best! On the other hand though…</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">What might happen to me if Place Two is too low?</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">I might get some very strange pain in my toe!</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">So Place One may be best,” and he started to go.</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">Then he stopped, and he said, “On the other hand
though….</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">On the other hand…other hand…other hand though…”</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">And for 36 hours and a half that poor Zode</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">Made starts and made stops at the fork in the road.</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">Saying, “Don’t take a chance. No! You may not be
right.”</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">Then he got an idea that was wonderfully bright!</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">“Play safe!” cried the Zode. “I’ll play safe. I’m no dunce!</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">I’ll simply start out for both places at once!”</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">And that’s how the Zode who would not take a chance</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">Got no place at all with a split in his pants.</div><p></p>Kingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-32048051349048925282024-03-17T08:30:00.003-05:002024-03-17T08:30:01.490-05:00Bill Crawford: One Small Surprise & One Dead Surprise Last Week<p></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">No
surprises in the March 12<sup>th</sup> congressional and presidential
primaries. Well, maybe a small one. <span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Political
neophyte Ghannon Burton carried nine northeast Mississippi counties against
incumbent Sen. Roger Wicker in the Republican primary. Only Alcorn County in that neck of the state stuck with him. Guess the
robocalls from Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy didn’t help much up there.</span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Burton,
a retired Marine colonel and former F/A-18 pilot with Top Gun credentials,
carried the counties of Tippah, Prentiss, Union, Lee, Itawamba, Pontotoc,
Calhoun, Chickasaw and his home county of Tishomingo. Wicker carried all other
counties, but Burton’s 25% vote statewide was respectable. He also ran ahead of
State Rep. Dan Eubanks in most counties. It will be interesting to see if he
rides these results into a future race.</span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Eubanks
finished third with 14% and lost his home county of DeSoto two to one to Wicker.
Burton was a distant third. In the November general election, Wicker will face
Ty Pinkins who was unopposed in the Democratic Primary.</span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Former
President Donald Trump easily won Mississippi’s Republican delegates with 92%
of the vote. President Joe Biden was unopposed in the Democratic Primary. All
incumbent congressmen advanced.</span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">One
day later, March 13<sup>th</sup>, the big surprise in the Mississippi Senate
died. Sen. Dennis DeBar’s bill to “save” Mississippi University for Women by giving it to Mississippi State
University died. He had introduced a measure to transfer the Mississippi School
for Math and Science to MSU which came
to the Senate Education Committee that he chairs. At the last minute he surprisingly
added the MUW transfer to the bill. </span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">W
forces geared up quickly to fight the bill. Even after DeBar passed an
amendment to change his bill from a transfer to a study, it failed.
Contributing to that defeat was another bill the Senate did pass that calls for
a study. Sen. Nicole Boyd, chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee
(which never saw DeBar’s bill), passed her bill calling for an efficiency study
of all eight IHL universities.</span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Boyd’s
bill would establish a 10-member Mississippi University System Efficiency Task
Force to “examine the efficiency and effectiveness of the public university
system in Mississippi, as it relates to the universities' collective mission of
enrolling and graduating more degreed Mississippians and retaining them in the
state, and anticipated nationwide challenges with regard to demographic shifts
and a projected overall decline in enrollment.”</span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Translated
that means the universities experiencing enrollment declines, particularly the
smaller ones like the W, will be carefully scrutinized.</span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Boyd’s
bill will move on to the House for consideration.</span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: black;">“Surely there is a future, and your hope will
not be cut off,” Proverbs 23:18.</span><span style="color: black;"></span></i></span></p>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: black;">Crawford is a syndicated columnist from Jackson.</span></i></span>Kingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-50497157508710850812024-03-16T20:38:00.006-05:002024-03-16T21:19:20.694-05:00Saturday Night Cinema<p> Star Wars generated a herd of copycats such as<i> Moonraker, Spaceballs,</i> and..... <i>Starcrash</i>. How bad was <i>Starcrash</i>? It was too bad for even Joe Bob Briggs. How bad is it? Let's just say Christopher Plummer should have never complained about being in <i>The Sound of Music</i> after taking part in this movie. Fellow headliners David Hasselhoff and Caroline Munro headline the all-whatever cast. Enjoy. </p><a name='more'></a><br /><p></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cfjFAM_BLgc?si=6PFL2AU5F1KLCbU5" title="YouTube video player" width="500"></iframe>Kingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-32053726510325768662024-03-16T20:31:00.001-05:002024-03-16T20:31:25.551-05:00Henifin Issues Clarification<p><i> JXN Water Manager Theodore Henifin issued the following statement. </i><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="color: black;">This
press release aims to address some possible misconceptions involving
Senate Bill 2628, the Mississippi Capital Region Utility Act, which
passed the Mississippi Senate on March 12, 2024. This Senate version is
not law yet. To be law, the bill must
pass the Mississippi House of Representatives and be signed by the
Governor. There is no guarantee that a final bill will pass the House,
nor is there a guarantee that the final bill will mirror the bill as
passed by the Senate.
</span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span><span style="color: black;">This
Mississippi Capital Region Utility Act would create a new utility
authority. The new authority would be governed by an unpaid,
nine-member board made up of rate-paying water utility customers. The
authority will assume operational responsibility once Judge Wingate
issues final judgements in the water and sewer cases currently
under his oversight. <b><u>That is not anticipated until late 2027</u></b>.</span></span></span><span><span><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="color: black;">In the interim, the new authority will organize and work closely with
the Court to develop a transition plan that will ensure a smooth transition <b><u>only</u></b>
when the final judgements are issued. The Interim Third-Party Manager
will continue to operate and manage water and sewer services for the
system through JXN Water
<b><u>until that time</u>.</b></span></span></span></span></p>Kingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-965914953873570192024-03-16T20:28:00.003-05:002024-03-16T20:28:27.196-05:00D.L. Gardner: Bless His Heart<p></p><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Let’s start this week’s column with a couple of
brief reviews of President Biden’s SOTU Address. One <i>New York Times</i>’
headline began, “<i>In-Your-Face Biden Takes on Trump and His Own
Doubters.</i>”<span><a name='more'></a></span></span></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br />Rather than trying to
characterize the Times’ article, let it speak for itself: (Biden)
“exhibited his stamina, his vitality, his capacity and, yes, his
umbrage. Defiant and feisty, he dispensed with the conventions of the
format to directly take on former President Donald J. Trump and
attempted to make the election a referendum on his predecessor rather
than himself. Mr. Biden shouted his lines, clearly intending to use
volume to demonstrate vigor. The prepared text had 80 exclamation points
in it and he surely added more on his own as he went along.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Many agree with this assessment, though perhaps not in the manner in which it was intended. <br />Of
course Biden also referenced J6 with the usual misinformation calling
the event an “insurrection” and those arrested as “insurrectionists.”
For what it’s worth, none of the 950 people arrested for their roles in
the J6 riot has been charged by the Justice Department with
insurrection, not even former President Trump. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">CNN’a polling
showed President Biden’s SOTU speech drew fewer viewers than last year’s
speech to the point it was the lowest rated SOTU address in 25 years.
In spite of Biden’s “looking to the future” rhetoric, he’ll likely fall
back to Democrats’ fail-safe issues of raising taxes on the wealthy,
expanding federal benefits for families, and lowering healthcare costs.<br /><br />Biden
continued to warn Israel about attacking the Gaza city of Rafah.
Meanwhile, Gaza cease-fire talks continue with Arab negotiators in the
face of the beginning of Ramadan. And, the General Frank S. Besson has
set sail from Virginia to Gaza with help to build a pier for
humanitarian supplies for Palestinians there. Maybe this will be the
“Come to Jesus” moment with PM Netanyahu that Biden quipped about on a
hot-mic after his speech last Thursday night. <br /><br />Recent revelations
and rulings in Trump’s court cases appear to be softening Biden’s and
fellow Democrats’ accusations that electing Trump will destroy
“Democracy!” What a hokey charge against a political opponent especially
accompanied by charges that Trump is not eligible to be on the ballot!
The Supreme court shot that down 9-0 last week in what the
Democrat-media coalition labeled as a partisan vote. Yes, 9-0. Partisan.
Supreme Court. <br /><br />So far, the Biden campaign’s strategies to
remove Trump from running have created a lot of late night fodder for
newer cutting edge comedians. Hitting her stride, Fulton County District
Attorney Fani Willis has gone well beyond the pale of political comedy
by attracting attention to her own romantic indiscretions with lover
Nathan Wade while simultaneously prosecuting Trump and a bunch of his
associates for … what is she prosecuting Trump for? A phone call? <br /><br />Court
time is beginning to run out before the November election, and
prosecutors are drawing more and more attention to themselves and their
ill-advised strategies of convicting Trump of felonies or sweeping him
off ballots in multiple states. <br /></span></p><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">In a
way, President Biden’s 2024 SOTU address will become a historic prelude
to Democrat follies of presidential politics. Historians will wonder who
came up with these lame strategies to re-elect Joe Biden. All the
people will say, “Bless his heart.”</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<i>Daniel L. Gardner is a columnist who lives in Starkville, MS. You may contact him at PJandMe2@gmail.com.</i><p></p>Kingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-5191062917318380562024-03-15T16:24:00.006-05:002024-03-15T16:34:48.640-05:00"Shut Up and Listen to Me!"<p style="text-align: center;"><i> Video of traffic stop and arrest posted below. </i><br /></p><p>A Mississippi Highway Patrol Trooper got his job back after he was fired for cursing and tasing a motorist who refused to comply during a traffic stop. <br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>Michael Harbin is a patrolman at F Troop. The trooper pulled over Jessica Waldon for allegedly speeding on I-22 in Lee County on June 8, 2023. Waldon made it quite clear this was not going to be a quiet encounter as she immediately began mouthing off to the trooper when she rolled down her window. </p><p>The motorist denied she was speeding and refused to provide her insurance, telling the trooper he "already had it." The confrontation escalated from there as Harbin yelled at Waldon, telling her to "shut up and listen" as she argued with him about providing her proof of insurance. She even "told him not to tell her to shut up." Harbin immediately told her to "shut up" and said he was writing her up for "speeding, seat belt, and tag cover" before returning to his vehicle (3:00) to write up her citations. <br /></p><p> Waldon tried to grab her citations as he read them to her (as required by law). That was enough for the trooper as he told her if she did not get quiet, she could go to jail. She questioned how he could take her to jail. The trooper immediately opened her door (8:20) and tried to pull her out of her car. She resisted and he was unable to pull her out as she yelled "what is your fucking problem." Harbin immediately (8:33) pulled out his taser and aimed it at the woman a possible tasing did not faze Waldon as she continued to yell at the patrolman. </p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-Md0b7XjwvI?si=cVPRRIbp0rMnFwbm" title="YouTube video player" width="500"></iframe><p></p>
<p>A fed-up Harbin told Waldon she was under arrest for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest as he tried to pull her out of the car again. However, Waldon continued to resist and keep Harbin from pulling her out of her vehicle. Harbin had enough. Visibly angry, the trooper twice tased the woman. A sobbing Weldon finally got out of her car as Harbin led her to his vehicle (10:40).</p><p>Waldon continued to squall as more law enforcement officers arrived at the scene. (16:30). Waldon ironically wore a shirt that said "Saracasm, It's what I do best." </p><p>The motorist was taken into custody but not without further conflict. The order states: </p><p> <br /></p><blockquote>When Appellant was finally able to get Ms. Waldon onto her feet, he walked her over to his vehicle, handcuffed her, and told her to have a seat in his patrol unit. Appellant told her that "you don't listen unless I raise my voice." Even after being tased TWICE, Ms. Waldon's pattern of argumentative and non-compliant behavior continued. Ms. Waldon responded, "I am not your child' Appellant said, ''I don't give a shit, you don't want to listen to me, it's gonna happen that way, so now you go to jail for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest." Ms. Waldon yelled at Appellant, "I don't give a shit, let's go" and then told Appellant that her car was still running, and Appellant told her, "I don't give a fuck if it's running or not"</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://deltahealthalliance.org/find-a-program/deer-creek-promise-community/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="450" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPi-WAB1xUXpiC59qk3M_87l0SK96DZAFvnlQ1LPit92_6jeO-1h6d5Y0A6Q14FEY23wxu48DMyUezoBOPYGthWye7XT_OS3drziWS7QS_F3OgFaWw2vUCqOj-iy_AMJbHESy2-kQacNB0JznZSb7kmuxVROiFg22MY4lwqg0jv-JaGNpdpSpF8mzYR8/w400-h178/DHA_Kingfish41_450x200.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><br />Harbin's immediate supervisors determined the trooper needed remedial training and counseled him after reviewing the dashcam video. Harbin said his eyes were "opened" after seeing the video and admitted he could have better handled the traffic stop. <p></p><p>The trooper's superior, Interim F Troop Captain Justin Alsup said Harbin was justified in deploying his taser: </p><p></p><blockquote>Alsup testified that he did not see a problem with Harbin's use of force. He testified that, for him, Harbin yelling at Ms. Waldon was the issue. He further testified that he "felt like that girl (Waldon) was going to be difficult for anybody that stopped her'' but that he didn't feel like he would have had to tase her had he made the stop. He said he did not feel like the stop should have escalated to what it did that quickly. He added that when Ms. Waldon did not comply with Harbin's order to get out of the car, Harbin was authorized to tase her for that Alsup said that after watching the video, he felt like Harbin needed counseling and training in de-escalation technique because the biggest issue he saw was how quickly the stop escalated. According to Alsup, Northern Region Major Chad Moore instructed him to sign Appellant up to attend training at MLEOTA. Alsup signed Harbin up for the November 14, 2023 training session. Major Moore advised Alsup that November 14ᵗʰ was not soon enough and Alsup was able to reschedule Harbin for a July 18ᵗʰ MLEOTA training session. Alsup testified that once he completed all counseling and the training, he never heard of any other problems with Harbin, <br /></blockquote><p></p><p>Waldon never contacted MHP to file a complaint even though Master Sergeant Jenkins met her at the jail and told her she had a right to do so. </p><p>However, the Fifth Floor in Jackson found out about the incident and had other ideas. MHP rescinded the administrative discipline and held a disciplinary hearing. MHP fired Harbin on October 19, 2023. Deputy Director Malachi Sanders defended the firing as he said Harbin's tasing of Waldon took place because "he escalated the situation and he didn't have the right to arrest her" since he went to his vehicle and wrote the citations. </p><p>The Board heard it all and ruled the Mississippi Highway Patrol should not have fired Michael Harbin. The Board said it was clear the trooper did not want to deploy his taser and only did so after he repeatedly told her to get out of her car and tried to pull her out of the vehicle himself. Different words or tone might have de-escalated the situation but there "remains the possibility" that such tactics would not have worked on Waldon. It was clear Waldon was going to be "combative" from the moment she was pulled over regardless who the trooper was. </p><p>Presiding Hearing Officer Amanda Smith ordered MHP to reinstate Harbin and awarded him back pay. </p><p>MHP may submit a motion to reconsider or appeal to Hinds County Chancery Court.</p><p><br /></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KKJprZqU_oU?si=fuyPgqcD-RcH_5gM" title="YouTube video player" width="500"></iframe><p></p>
<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="0.75" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_60591" scrolling="no" src="https://www.scribd.com/embeds/713685264/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-4A1E3ToxsjdRrURQpkIz" title="Harbin Appeal File 1" width="100%"></iframe>Kingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.com70tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-57759093551570574582024-03-15T13:24:00.002-05:002024-03-15T13:24:43.612-05:00Sign of the Times?<p> Wonderful. Just wonderful. This little bit of urban street language is hanging by the side of Jacksonian Plaza. <span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gW_-0_0lqJICN5Sji4r4ziP9jIwb148-1v0UE9ycoqv2mSD1gyGCvD6ex6vyKEC7M7wx4KIoqpyFxKlgXrX5vw0yEjaO4OxT4aXcXOOlpkWQsXwit31bCPBzjjG6C2BySKwA4NOfFvYz0Y_f5ZsMJds_JDYF7y6J90QVVN2KQmrouNHdGCMMbh7IM2A/s2706/PXL_20240315_165407507.MP~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="2706" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gW_-0_0lqJICN5Sji4r4ziP9jIwb148-1v0UE9ycoqv2mSD1gyGCvD6ex6vyKEC7M7wx4KIoqpyFxKlgXrX5vw0yEjaO4OxT4aXcXOOlpkWQsXwit31bCPBzjjG6C2BySKwA4NOfFvYz0Y_f5ZsMJds_JDYF7y6J90QVVN2KQmrouNHdGCMMbh7IM2A/w400-h335/PXL_20240315_165407507.MP~2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwlYtKtKmWkiaTe6q2Zknr4I0lzS1I5NfM1ICzwr5fDwy-glTdNB9Tm4cpV10JCGOaHaXEApxYN3jZD53ATocNH7ODxkzuJD76GvSKnLDAD0buS4nJ-ivJ4LO-KDI3a0MnhivCY7IuS9I3uQp5os7L6ZrFnNNXIsc8aW-yKQMobe8XqNkRyFxSZGF23Y/s628/PXL_20240315_165407507.MP~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="628" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwlYtKtKmWkiaTe6q2Zknr4I0lzS1I5NfM1ICzwr5fDwy-glTdNB9Tm4cpV10JCGOaHaXEApxYN3jZD53ATocNH7ODxkzuJD76GvSKnLDAD0buS4nJ-ivJ4LO-KDI3a0MnhivCY7IuS9I3uQp5os7L6ZrFnNNXIsc8aW-yKQMobe8XqNkRyFxSZGF23Y/w400-h251/PXL_20240315_165407507.MP~2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8Q_Dn6-b1-bWoa4BKBWO-t3PLSD3c-N9_xWkMgk1OlhnvC-KlW02AYnJ7hZzs4U-8ytaI3O60tPDN9Tyy7EwOfTk7fbk86Obp_xbYFGFoPZmS8qT6dxJtyiuhovGF3Palc5xmG0ZbyEKbBZLvl3IXNGh2EhKknQ8LG8I6XcRMCdrRG7IJScTksOocm8/s450/Breese_law_KF_webads_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="450" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8Q_Dn6-b1-bWoa4BKBWO-t3PLSD3c-N9_xWkMgk1OlhnvC-KlW02AYnJ7hZzs4U-8ytaI3O60tPDN9Tyy7EwOfTk7fbk86Obp_xbYFGFoPZmS8qT6dxJtyiuhovGF3Palc5xmG0ZbyEKbBZLvl3IXNGh2EhKknQ8LG8I6XcRMCdrRG7IJScTksOocm8/w400-h178/Breese_law_KF_webads_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Kingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-39904375189022550522024-03-15T11:24:00.003-05:002024-03-15T16:26:29.398-05:00Senate OK's Bill to Buyout Jackson's Water/Sewer System<p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2024/pdf/history/SB/SB2628.xml">Text & history of SB #2628. </a> </span></i></b></p><p>The Mississippi State Senate passed SB #2628 Tuesday. The bill creates a new public utility district that will in turn purchase Jackson's water/sewer system from the city. Although detractors claim otherwise, the bill is not a takeover but a buyout. Jackson's water/sewer receiver, Ted Henifin, supports the bill. <span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p>Section 2(a) states the Act will <br /></p><p></p><blockquote>a) Provide the
Mississippi Capitol Region Utility Authority the option <b>to purchase the
existing water and wastewater assets from the City of Jackson at fair market value
as determined by the court, provided all existing system debts have been retired
or paid.</b> Upon completion of the purchase of assets, the water and wastewater assets
shall be transferred to the utility authority's ownership, management and
control to ensure all citizens have access to safe, clean and reliable water and
wastewater systems at affordable, just and reasonable regulated rates, and to provide
an adequate amount of capital to keep such systems in good repair;</blockquote><p></p><b>Jackson's credit rating will improve as hundreds of millions of water/sewer debt are cleansed from the books and the city will undoubtedly get a rather handsome infusion of much, very much-needed cash</b>. <br /><p>The highlights of the bill are: </p><p>*Dubbed the Mississippi Capitol Region Utility Act, the bill minces no words nor spares the feelings of Jackson's Mayor as it calls JXN Water Manager Ted Henifin "the Receiver" and says the federal court placed Jackson's water/sewer system under "receivership." </p><p>* The bill creates a Mississippi Capitol Region Utility Authority that will operate Jackson's water/sewer system <u>when the Court terminates the receivership</u>. </p><p>*<b> All federal funds will be spent ONLY in the service areas</b>. Some demagogues (You know who they are) will spin this is an excuse for the legislature to steal the federal relief and spend it elsewhere in the state as they did last year. Absolutely not true and those who say it are lying. Period. </p><p>* The Chief Justice shall select the appropriate chancery or circuit court if the authority's creation is challenged. </p><p>* The Authority can issue revenue bonds. </p><p>* Transparency. The Authority and its Board of Directors are subject to the Public Records and Open Meetings Acts. Annual audited financial statements must be published. </p><p>* Competitive bidding must be used to award contracts. </p><p>* The Authority only has oversight for sewer service in Ridgeland and water service in Byram. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ballotaccessmississippi.org/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1800" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmEX43PvpBtCfqAX7uCsMD8HBCIwyf2lXvBGUleLGKpKqpMQk9ng0jzkvirHY4CpFG5QgYGcaROqEakHPQMMs7HREqiVGbpvHL0FhevUCuv2lT4eTzsry8xzVPC6Kz7YgsAyhxMFXQvSowO671pgCzQXE_1nORxMYcf0eJcud_R0ogWmYDB46PgTCIDQ/w400-h178/BAM_Empower_450x200.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p> The Act creates a <b>Board of Directors</b> that will oversee the Authority. The composition of the Board is rather intriguing. The Board is comprised of the following appointments: <p></p><p>* The Mayor of Jackson appoints a member of the clergy who lives within the service area. (Huh? Why a member of the clergy? Just what we need, another Reverend Stallworth showing up in warmups for Board meetings)</p><p>* Jackson City Council appoints 2 Directors. One must be an employee of a local non-profit organization and the owner of a restaurant. </p><p>* Governor appoints three Directors: an employee of a large non-healthcare business that has at least 200 employees, a small business owner, and an at-large appointee who lives or works in the service area. </p><p>* Leftenent Governor appoints a member of a large healthcare facility, employee of a college or university, an at-large Director who lives or works within the service area. </p><p>All appointees must be ratepayers. The bill urges the appointees be diverse. The Senate must confirm all appointees. No current or former elected officials can serve on the Board. The appointments must be made by September 1, 2024. Terms will be four years after the initial terms expire. </p><p>The Board will meet monthly. Four meetings will be held in various locations throughout the service area. Public comment must be allowed. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ueYe38aRzx_iWh4KZerGaZWNBGHGMgFGqU3oiEoPH0xXm4dDZGfZLHbDuCCWo4H6_miTF0XcwCffASkSNHoVDwspC6Far9xxSlGc5nZWfSkPTzI9nTQqRy41OErs_6qoU-DUKZk2Xz09_IyeM9OWEOsRkAK5y8ft0izvaf0hYQ3piUzsDKZ2iFEC9E4/s705/Water%20Bill%20vote.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="705" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ueYe38aRzx_iWh4KZerGaZWNBGHGMgFGqU3oiEoPH0xXm4dDZGfZLHbDuCCWo4H6_miTF0XcwCffASkSNHoVDwspC6Far9xxSlGc5nZWfSkPTzI9nTQqRy41OErs_6qoU-DUKZk2Xz09_IyeM9OWEOsRkAK5y8ft0izvaf0hYQ3piUzsDKZ2iFEC9E4/w400-h179/Water%20Bill%20vote.png" width="400" /></a></div> <p></p><p>The bill passed on a vote of 35-14. The Black Caucus and State Senator David Blount voted against the bill as they favor returning the system to the city of Jackson. </p><p>State Senator Horhn filed a motion to reconsider that failed. <br /></p><p><br /></p>Kingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-62542152151622817702024-03-15T08:30:00.001-05:002024-03-15T08:30:01.467-05:00Old Friends and Catfish Stew<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">Back in the
1970s, we lived in Cleveland, MS, where I worked for Baxter
Healthcare. During our time in Cleveland, we became friends with a "good old
Cleveland boy" and his family. He was a faithful husband,
father, welder, frog grabber, fisherman, feral pig and deer hunter, and stew maker, although maybe not in that exact order.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHxwbNtXGaVW1rewSvuHF9x4X65Yx-LFMVCfYUxQX1L9tHXbIF6ua2929ZEmFsDK_TqeGIkOTCTDi5lgH3Yn-lQibEUg9vv615o6EMxt5m8eT_V0tPvGncDqn7h86jo0r2vezX0Jf8zpEjx3Awoc0YWT95-bIcFeCoxWgC6WvQMg2zSIJNTC5yVYmAJNj/s662/00000%20IMG_8010.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="662" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHxwbNtXGaVW1rewSvuHF9x4X65Yx-LFMVCfYUxQX1L9tHXbIF6ua2929ZEmFsDK_TqeGIkOTCTDi5lgH3Yn-lQibEUg9vv615o6EMxt5m8eT_V0tPvGncDqn7h86jo0r2vezX0Jf8zpEjx3Awoc0YWT95-bIcFeCoxWgC6WvQMg2zSIJNTC5yVYmAJNj/w490-h273/00000%20IMG_8010.JPG" width="490" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
</span><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">I will start this recipe post by remembering days in Cleveland, MS during the 1970s, and sharing memories of an old friend.</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;">One weekend, my 1970s Cleveland friend and his wife invited us to a family BBQ at their fishing camp cabin
on Beulah Lake, which is on the river side of the levee, west of
Beulah, MS. He had killed a small wild hog and planned on
cooking a hind quarter for his cousin family, and for us, "If
we wanted to come by the camp around lunch next Saturday." </span>
</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">Beulah Lake, as with all of the Ox-bow lakes up and down the Mississippi River is an old section of the river channel that became a lake when the river channel changed, leaving the bypassed sections behind as lakes, usually closed at the upper end and sometimes open to the river at the lower end by what is called an Ox-bow chute. When the river is up, water flows into the ox-bow from the river. causing the lake level to rise and when the river drops, water from the lake flows back into the river through the chute until the chute dries up, the water exit stops, and the lake waits patiently for the next rise in the river. There is one common characteristic about ox-bows. They are full of crappy, bass, bream, and catfish. Snakes, too, but that needs to be saved for another post.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="color: #333333;">I'm not trying to
complicate things too much, but my friend's cousin was also my
cousin, just on the other side of the family. </span></span><span style="color: #333333;">So, my friend and I weren't really related, just good friends, as was the case with him and
about half of the folks in Cleveland, MS. Anyhow, my wife, the kids,
and I showed up a little before lunch that day and before too long, were
eating some tasty tater salad and the best BBQed wild pig hind
quarter meat ever. </span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">After lunch he pointed to his flat bottom, tied
to the pier jutting out into Beulah Lake and asked our co-cousin and me if we would like to go help him run his catfish net while the
wives watched the kids and talked about quilting, bunco strategies,
quantum physics, or whatever. Five minutes later, we were headed
three miles down the lake toward the chute that feeds water into and
out of the ox-bow lake, depending on the level of the river, The
chute was the location of his hoop net. The lake water had been moving out from the lake into the river via the Beulah chute for a week and he guided his boat down the lake with the confidence of a man who had caught many catfish in his hoop net over the years.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VTklMgJEbV0KTiwXWlPnKnrKmELoz3dx4r41xNlnHvUSQU3p70RnxY1iO56f4SBWJ5UzhdsNxYUTbUNp1rYk8xMPYJ4wYgfRo3ceVYwD_hyphenhypheniNGTqsiyZj7KlXGMT0X5d6c4aED5jKFErFk339A0um7dpqmit9_-XS1wV6clKK1k3XGca1wvTBkKOjSgc/s1500/000000%20Hoop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="1500" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VTklMgJEbV0KTiwXWlPnKnrKmELoz3dx4r41xNlnHvUSQU3p70RnxY1iO56f4SBWJ5UzhdsNxYUTbUNp1rYk8xMPYJ4wYgfRo3ceVYwD_hyphenhypheniNGTqsiyZj7KlXGMT0X5d6c4aED5jKFErFk339A0um7dpqmit9_-XS1wV6clKK1k3XGca1wvTBkKOjSgc/w494-h184/000000%20Hoop.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
</span><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">An hour later, we
were headed back toward the camp, with over a hundred catfish his
legally tagged hoop net had harvested from Beulah Lake over the
previous few days.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">We skinned, cleaned, and filleted catfish for the next few hours and then delivered all but a portion he put on ice, to a fish house on Boliver Lake and a grocer in Cleveland. </span>
</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Iw2nQBx81_njlhZQWE6af6VM0FBT6lN_MBic_kyfPm9Bqq4tweo6WYiE_rElKpS21tbVIbi6ooHY03PXhZe9i9xD4llCwUJjzFySQ9SZrj5DqDM2pIA9TYjRwUrUaHwZ20hZ6-ozvKpGt3a4UjILXq7H30-CnbqN0udhyphenhyphen_XPN9GHT62nVDsodMYfmDWN/s700/00000%20H%20cleaned.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="700" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Iw2nQBx81_njlhZQWE6af6VM0FBT6lN_MBic_kyfPm9Bqq4tweo6WYiE_rElKpS21tbVIbi6ooHY03PXhZe9i9xD4llCwUJjzFySQ9SZrj5DqDM2pIA9TYjRwUrUaHwZ20hZ6-ozvKpGt3a4UjILXq7H30-CnbqN0udhyphenhyphen_XPN9GHT62nVDsodMYfmDWN/w491-h393/00000%20H%20cleaned.jpg" width="491" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">We were back at
the camp house the next day for a true "all you can eat"
fried catfish lunch, followed by catfish stew, made with leftover fried
fillets for fish camp dinner that night.</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMK6FWlEr9XSrhKOEKk6AyEcDxkjENuV-tq1S2bdNbrtACHMzMyhBjsyieMDry9TF78GLzet65iuxfC0eo5_10ThPX-bB-c-8lkTrIDUq-fOgWVZ_MXGAI06nKi-BZV9Wnahkr71MXWZkkrSEivoD4SulHut9Ctx4407URMn_th-y_ku2T2uP5TWrAABs/s564/00000%20H%20Fried%20Catfish.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="564" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMK6FWlEr9XSrhKOEKk6AyEcDxkjENuV-tq1S2bdNbrtACHMzMyhBjsyieMDry9TF78GLzet65iuxfC0eo5_10ThPX-bB-c-8lkTrIDUq-fOgWVZ_MXGAI06nKi-BZV9Wnahkr71MXWZkkrSEivoD4SulHut9Ctx4407URMn_th-y_ku2T2uP5TWrAABs/w488-h329/00000%20H%20Fried%20Catfish.jpg" width="488" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">My friend was a good
guy, who would drive his welding equipment truck out to meet a farmer
in the middle of an unplanted field at 4:00 am or 9:00 pm to weld
repairs on a broken disk or the broken shank on a subsoil plow.
During harvest season, he was willing to work on a combine all night long to
get someone back into the field so they could continue harvesting their beans when the dew dried the next morning. In addition to all
of that, the guy could catch fish with his commercial licensed hoop
nets or trot lines like no one I have ever known. He also loved hand
grabbing frogs from local cypress slews, and harvesting as many feral hogs as the
Loins Club might want for their Hog Dinner fundraiser roast. His freezer
ran over with smoked deer sausage. His wife and kids loved
him, and I never met anyone who did not like him. Surely, goodness and mercy followed him all the days of his life. (RIP Dale).</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">Here is my version of his
recipe for Catfish Stew, still good after so many years.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">Need:</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2-3 large fried
Catfish Fillets (Maybe 1 1/2 pounds)<br />1/2 cup of bacon pieces –
For Lent, leave them out and replace with butter<br />2 cups red
potatoes, cut into 3/4 to 1 inch pieces <br />1 large onion, diced<br />2
stalks celery, diced<br />1 large tomato, peeled and diced<br />2 ears
corn<br />1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce<br />1 cup compound butter
with cilantro <br />1 Tablespoon Creole/Cajun Seasoning<br />a little
garlic, salt, and pepper </span><br /><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwlheoswa6ua-MWeb1WgIdXFnI_q6hL9h_tbH07_QKWsxpSnzi1XHA8c1fDe-0C80nokKoSF4mLI5ybvsI_LJoNqySJG-GUTzLiGTxMsqFWh-8EqW5xLDGWlrpmEM4u9bSU5q68SYMp0wVYMIDJKZ-JIkQXJtzRcrCmEYXnxxwOOVxzNpv12LSGse8H5K/s734/IMG_7965.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="734" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwlheoswa6ua-MWeb1WgIdXFnI_q6hL9h_tbH07_QKWsxpSnzi1XHA8c1fDe-0C80nokKoSF4mLI5ybvsI_LJoNqySJG-GUTzLiGTxMsqFWh-8EqW5xLDGWlrpmEM4u9bSU5q68SYMp0wVYMIDJKZ-JIkQXJtzRcrCmEYXnxxwOOVxzNpv12LSGse8H5K/w493-h347/IMG_7965.JPG" width="493" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></div><span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">If I am able, rather than frying my
catfish, I just buy some gas station fried catfish fillets, which are always
available here. The only difference in our recipes is my catfish are delta farm raised and Dale always served lake grown (wild caught) fish. </span></span></span><div><span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">I usually add a dash or two of hot sauce or a dusting
of red cayenne pepper to my gas station fried fish help flavor the dish. To get started, break the
catfish into suitable pieces and set aside.</span></span><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ouRx36FgeAbPECiSl8wBz__9wLKdWaf8POjJaWzccASLCaMOHEooWLffmEK6I84-nQas333axNIMeh5wtYc0DjPhf63n1qPk_EHg-7vz5RdRt9zFBK_U0gSaxm257R7dj_Dm5UCxYzI8wUkwL4ORqJRQ_kquB-Jte9DJRR361NM4iGYtxVgR7pEk5PJx/s745/IMG_7991.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="745" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ouRx36FgeAbPECiSl8wBz__9wLKdWaf8POjJaWzccASLCaMOHEooWLffmEK6I84-nQas333axNIMeh5wtYc0DjPhf63n1qPk_EHg-7vz5RdRt9zFBK_U0gSaxm257R7dj_Dm5UCxYzI8wUkwL4ORqJRQ_kquB-Jte9DJRR361NM4iGYtxVgR7pEk5PJx/w490-h338/IMG_7991.JPG" width="490" /></a></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><br />Cut the corn from the cob, peel and dice the tomato and potatoes and set aside. </span>
</span><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1RvCwDLL41gmba8QRSsV-2RWeaNjIOp4sngPFJnibxaZncUC5j1csCOMwmPlX9lJmnOPiLM1E4iHhWKrPyl5PznC7DpMhFjbOr7xoPMZ4KE7w_s6gFgSoAZ-KtR4ivp9nECyShYcssERWiLBRqvky2p19PFGJF0QlvvT3zN2xPbutY4IJFL1D2V1XJq-x/s646/IMG_7971.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="646" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1RvCwDLL41gmba8QRSsV-2RWeaNjIOp4sngPFJnibxaZncUC5j1csCOMwmPlX9lJmnOPiLM1E4iHhWKrPyl5PznC7DpMhFjbOr7xoPMZ4KE7w_s6gFgSoAZ-KtR4ivp9nECyShYcssERWiLBRqvky2p19PFGJF0QlvvT3zN2xPbutY4IJFL1D2V1XJq-x/w487-h388/IMG_7971.JPG" width="487" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifd-OWndgw6al2xCIuicN5E6VcBW5pWIB_XOIYtVpcRrS1OMxyrT0bGFDtxGr2zgIKNdRLRsPj3ET0Fe1OKeYU_6qRNNChVKSA5NqXB6MVxBpprfnyGdriT5ycQRd4CyqaiHPTyNhX9U-w2GQ3JxcfS4mBfxtBlp8Wyjzw72BRVDghuZDIp1PSG5UxDJqv/s693/IMG_7981.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="693" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifd-OWndgw6al2xCIuicN5E6VcBW5pWIB_XOIYtVpcRrS1OMxyrT0bGFDtxGr2zgIKNdRLRsPj3ET0Fe1OKeYU_6qRNNChVKSA5NqXB6MVxBpprfnyGdriT5ycQRd4CyqaiHPTyNhX9U-w2GQ3JxcfS4mBfxtBlp8Wyjzw72BRVDghuZDIp1PSG5UxDJqv/w497-h370/IMG_7981.JPG" width="497" /></a></div><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">Cook the bacon
until it is crisp and set aside. Save the fat for use in the stew.</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYcUW88rNsrhGJT1R8bdtdxGuZ_kPwY6qQVOtTo80ocZd1o42w_mnFhvemlkVZX_wD1VvszqK6OtlVJxlbPNbQkN6ipKilAgSNfb8DvjoMMWy2AqXRCTxCH4VNzaEw_abdMwHTwpB7LKqMCCoBCOm6vX9-woEIcqRcypxK4BTntQLM7FyRBxsG0bsIyFW/s640/IMG_7966.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="507" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYcUW88rNsrhGJT1R8bdtdxGuZ_kPwY6qQVOtTo80ocZd1o42w_mnFhvemlkVZX_wD1VvszqK6OtlVJxlbPNbQkN6ipKilAgSNfb8DvjoMMWy2AqXRCTxCH4VNzaEw_abdMwHTwpB7LKqMCCoBCOm6vX9-woEIcqRcypxK4BTntQLM7FyRBxsG0bsIyFW/w507-h507/IMG_7966.JPG" width="507" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDzZ198bw_tY28pVwDztV6ueF2pjCbyefktyq5DfKuFBtDhWHs_m0pGXlyFTprtCeXhJBZxkZdHIcLsK5dZO5S0g5yN-ORqtH9wAoJkDf7Ijenj52kKOMtno1Uq-iK9MVtWnqpoXGtNzpooAG0QGLPpXRnC0Bcx6sl9-SHDiBppQMgGuk9uc39qfP-PHy/s640/IMG_7967.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDzZ198bw_tY28pVwDztV6ueF2pjCbyefktyq5DfKuFBtDhWHs_m0pGXlyFTprtCeXhJBZxkZdHIcLsK5dZO5S0g5yN-ORqtH9wAoJkDf7Ijenj52kKOMtno1Uq-iK9MVtWnqpoXGtNzpooAG0QGLPpXRnC0Bcx6sl9-SHDiBppQMgGuk9uc39qfP-PHy/w496-h496/IMG_7967.JPG" width="496" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPzYLd1C7CzbJjGi_hmIgxFxqbg0JWnzxrCFBqgx5Hxi2R-s5pKuddBu7jjJXtIK7UXZsYrMAHlLABHv7e_yZYLbzmn8eQOv78_CUGn8XRvDqu0J9VfSXysWUsAnHJ4BkehhZsMRzc0HIZnGz_lKGbkw2OlwTYVTKjsS55KAs_BjdtrbUkV-xYRdB-0PN/s640/IMG_7968.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="487" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPzYLd1C7CzbJjGi_hmIgxFxqbg0JWnzxrCFBqgx5Hxi2R-s5pKuddBu7jjJXtIK7UXZsYrMAHlLABHv7e_yZYLbzmn8eQOv78_CUGn8XRvDqu0J9VfSXysWUsAnHJ4BkehhZsMRzc0HIZnGz_lKGbkw2OlwTYVTKjsS55KAs_BjdtrbUkV-xYRdB-0PN/w487-h487/IMG_7968.JPG" width="487" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufxElmrQQGxeo4bcMOU_fOLWZgvX4a8Uh7YUOh3rWBF5s7Q7LdV5VV8N4cyPYnMIeaEnsmg5Q5jnoL6oYP_lXZvULYjk2kNiUSkUwf6esJ6CQ1ShZfHa7U0FcJrF1dQslzCx0VIld3OUMrChAyyttaEY6IpyoW06JotrtbVBj3TNtOEVSTyg2Kv1ca_Xf/s507/IMG_7990.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="507" height="455" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufxElmrQQGxeo4bcMOU_fOLWZgvX4a8Uh7YUOh3rWBF5s7Q7LdV5VV8N4cyPYnMIeaEnsmg5Q5jnoL6oYP_lXZvULYjk2kNiUSkUwf6esJ6CQ1ShZfHa7U0FcJrF1dQslzCx0VIld3OUMrChAyyttaEY6IpyoW06JotrtbVBj3TNtOEVSTyg2Kv1ca_Xf/w490-h455/IMG_7990.JPG" width="490" /></a></div><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">Chop the onion and celery and sauté them until
tender in the bacon fat, or if not using bacon in your stew (a mistake), cook them in a little butter with
some Olive oil added. </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 2; text-align: center; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Jh2tRtf8kuXw6DlerONX7PbutQnktdF0oHZCHM_mmNsnKrQ47XuaX8u3ljPZvP0mI3TkXweE8zZXI5dcydccykkgro28UfdpZf92c1XYpo91_qJBIECk_GUiUbIL3qEB0NWDtXA6Ofl9gT8FTfex1qW0-aNhzJvKJKl8j-dwUNLpN6Pj-IwZIsx4vwg0/s699/IMG_7973.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="699" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Jh2tRtf8kuXw6DlerONX7PbutQnktdF0oHZCHM_mmNsnKrQ47XuaX8u3ljPZvP0mI3TkXweE8zZXI5dcydccykkgro28UfdpZf92c1XYpo91_qJBIECk_GUiUbIL3qEB0NWDtXA6Ofl9gT8FTfex1qW0-aNhzJvKJKl8j-dwUNLpN6Pj-IwZIsx4vwg0/w498-h367/IMG_7973.JPG" width="498" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">When the vegetables are tender, add two cups of
chicken broth, the corn cobs, a Tablespoon of Creole/Cajun seasoning
and a quarter cup of compound butter. </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 2; text-align: center; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-x3i7By9FjuPSG4as0QQw_EYginOXw2fDteJbZd5pHYFCpGxGBCKk2CYzDdwhNaTz0cAGYgo-sn0kNBD-bLG2MI-YruDKQkKp0drTJEncxOnDXfj8XGz5W2gExoq9SDEyQhp-1ARu605lG9QGttli1t-QNiIySAM8-N-S56_rPIw-oibSzTIJ2AZHcsR/s661/IMG_7979.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="661" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-x3i7By9FjuPSG4as0QQw_EYginOXw2fDteJbZd5pHYFCpGxGBCKk2CYzDdwhNaTz0cAGYgo-sn0kNBD-bLG2MI-YruDKQkKp0drTJEncxOnDXfj8XGz5W2gExoq9SDEyQhp-1ARu605lG9QGttli1t-QNiIySAM8-N-S56_rPIw-oibSzTIJ2AZHcsR/w496-h386/IMG_7979.JPG" width="496" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">After cooking the cobs for twenty or
thirty minutes, remove them and add the cut-up potatoes to the broth,
with a Tablespoon of parsley, a Tablespoon of Worcestershire, two bay
leaves and a teaspoon of red pepper flakes. Cook this until the
potatoes are almost tender and then add the tomatoes and the corn you cut
off of the cobs.</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXA1fNDhCoEPmMexnf79vsJNzaGkzuZmZA2Og7mn83sCAiMMVKDx-kcSptQ95FVLw7IekIL0yY_9Bwye_AKkcsa3cjx0KTWtCjHRt6mIxkZ_oIUeTA3qScfNctOWhmmDTnT7b9agTA3LfP2JtI8wv6y3c8jAIQ79sATRXzTx8BZZj5jAnZxBzgcBmf9XQ/s661/IMG_7984.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="661" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXA1fNDhCoEPmMexnf79vsJNzaGkzuZmZA2Og7mn83sCAiMMVKDx-kcSptQ95FVLw7IekIL0yY_9Bwye_AKkcsa3cjx0KTWtCjHRt6mIxkZ_oIUeTA3qScfNctOWhmmDTnT7b9agTA3LfP2JtI8wv6y3c8jAIQ79sATRXzTx8BZZj5jAnZxBzgcBmf9XQ/w494-h384/IMG_7984.JPG" width="494" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWlobpLj3E4iKr5lNBjYuFBYs2b8u9H5jXF4K3jYOMaDCPuy6QutSIz_gJGqNquZ9ooAaNYDRiy1jcaqagzEB7qFCRHMCmKdmJ97Fwlw8H_Dcu3DemSa4RBf4Jfh-dVDkquR9HoOesY5X4GbKVipzCw1fv6VjAQCR7Pe9joEuIbZ7j926HX8vDNNo6zle/s621/IMG_7985.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="621" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWlobpLj3E4iKr5lNBjYuFBYs2b8u9H5jXF4K3jYOMaDCPuy6QutSIz_gJGqNquZ9ooAaNYDRiy1jcaqagzEB7qFCRHMCmKdmJ97Fwlw8H_Dcu3DemSa4RBf4Jfh-dVDkquR9HoOesY5X4GbKVipzCw1fv6VjAQCR7Pe9joEuIbZ7j926HX8vDNNo6zle/w495-h410/IMG_7985.JPG" width="495" /></a></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cook until the corn is done (maybe 10
minutes) and the stew has thickened somewhat. The tomatoes will not be fully cooked, but that is how I do my stew. Finish by adding the
other quarter cup of butter. Taste for seasoning and add a touch of
salt and black pepper if needed. </span></span></span><p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 2; text-align: center; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZhue3Z3pYUyC6ZHo1mWNMViy2eFh1inkczfAz9d32ZqH1Oqrw1ZK-NUvSewYqB7rc8483hoeq431O61hc2b07O4JixXIYMzQBz35RwbtFjTNP05imMy8yckI8pylk7df64Ae0Kb8Ty213ufW1X3jvKesPJFaJxZUoTL3kx-9aABQfYsZsmY89HOnDyt9/s630/IMG_7986.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="630" height="407" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZhue3Z3pYUyC6ZHo1mWNMViy2eFh1inkczfAz9d32ZqH1Oqrw1ZK-NUvSewYqB7rc8483hoeq431O61hc2b07O4JixXIYMzQBz35RwbtFjTNP05imMy8yckI8pylk7df64Ae0Kb8Ty213ufW1X3jvKesPJFaJxZUoTL3kx-9aABQfYsZsmY89HOnDyt9/w497-h407/IMG_7986.JPG" width="497" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeM8pZagNt2oKWta5yasNhkSgPAg5nZafnf1bMv_cQdBDQFhMeUk0Fg2VrMlI9wGGN55rdPHJSaPNApwnvflkeSMcX0OfbktHgF8h0NI8de77fGxtusL7daAR0A67MZ6rsssYar1uEPTup11nly0iD95o_j3XeB89yBQCUgsjCCxDgfPyM7JWkpOCtWdDe/s692/IMG_7988.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="692" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeM8pZagNt2oKWta5yasNhkSgPAg5nZafnf1bMv_cQdBDQFhMeUk0Fg2VrMlI9wGGN55rdPHJSaPNApwnvflkeSMcX0OfbktHgF8h0NI8de77fGxtusL7daAR0A67MZ6rsssYar1uEPTup11nly0iD95o_j3XeB89yBQCUgsjCCxDgfPyM7JWkpOCtWdDe/w492-h366/IMG_7988.JPG" width="492" /></a></div><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">Add the catfish and bacon.</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzS7gAzVK06JemExqQU44xdPxB5ylmFDYBwgL-uarjwmGFHvaNdSl9eDT7ep44iVHqqfRI_osp5XFA4nQo5rb4F2qONYxqHXOYovBTOL4-QfHnYWmG340vNuQ5oeKg0Q3QinmJqcljFqBBHogiHAeoCZiFXMRZMLA7VYIX8LuaMn2BahA8stR8f6jFwYA/s774/IMG_8009.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="774" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzS7gAzVK06JemExqQU44xdPxB5ylmFDYBwgL-uarjwmGFHvaNdSl9eDT7ep44iVHqqfRI_osp5XFA4nQo5rb4F2qONYxqHXOYovBTOL4-QfHnYWmG340vNuQ5oeKg0Q3QinmJqcljFqBBHogiHAeoCZiFXMRZMLA7VYIX8LuaMn2BahA8stR8f6jFwYA/w494-h329/IMG_8009.JPG" width="494" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0PMD2K7aDqqsidNs39iuzJmES6qn82DulH_x5y2_3ASid5jhHt_Tg-VlPGBmyENZmfzHlTbM84Am8SAkRtf95HSVKVt4X54I0MlhqaN5pm_s4UZ8uCJl9MunmteYHgte7PsC3eMrzROuAec7t0N-SO81ZjhqAVigzl6R8esClyXd3XV8wxasv5saL1Nl/s662/IMG_8010.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="662" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0PMD2K7aDqqsidNs39iuzJmES6qn82DulH_x5y2_3ASid5jhHt_Tg-VlPGBmyENZmfzHlTbM84Am8SAkRtf95HSVKVt4X54I0MlhqaN5pm_s4UZ8uCJl9MunmteYHgte7PsC3eMrzROuAec7t0N-SO81ZjhqAVigzl6R8esClyXd3XV8wxasv5saL1Nl/w494-h384/IMG_8010.JPG" width="494" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Serve
with butter toasted French bread.</span></span></span><p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwn3rv_Q2zvgX2WcqK3iBSrKuP9UZYG-4pRNUHjdVYyimacteOavxqaIf8shVJBILmrm_3er5eVWLSfSNpOJOrD0pSrVIHu4Khkte-uXzLt7TnMN4R4M-2rXIYS126mI6vDwNemgFGI9QmJxBRr4Hk_NlciflICMcvNj5VXwl8Tjyv_3CDci2p2crOAWy/s724/IMG_8007.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="724" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwn3rv_Q2zvgX2WcqK3iBSrKuP9UZYG-4pRNUHjdVYyimacteOavxqaIf8shVJBILmrm_3er5eVWLSfSNpOJOrD0pSrVIHu4Khkte-uXzLt7TnMN4R4M-2rXIYS126mI6vDwNemgFGI9QmJxBRr4Hk_NlciflICMcvNj5VXwl8Tjyv_3CDci2p2crOAWy/w492-h351/IMG_8007.JPG" width="492" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKhVirMs3OD2zoY7k5NAIH2M6qMaQQCSviEctGHykX2K5qXNd-ktGWiX5AkkUUoBZkYMT0B1C_SnuFlkmp_gqqMScQChDFNhjIdy0Zm2EErcfKbKWNvdxRMjkvEB7dVztQej2ubkb3rTtrayFFR2AEBNhDhDnVmIt9mesoN1h59k8vnZsYahDrY-z-0ff/s724/IMG_8022.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="724" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKhVirMs3OD2zoY7k5NAIH2M6qMaQQCSviEctGHykX2K5qXNd-ktGWiX5AkkUUoBZkYMT0B1C_SnuFlkmp_gqqMScQChDFNhjIdy0Zm2EErcfKbKWNvdxRMjkvEB7dVztQej2ubkb3rTtrayFFR2AEBNhDhDnVmIt9mesoN1h59k8vnZsYahDrY-z-0ff/w494-h352/IMG_8022.JPG" width="494" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQqrjmlNTWKJXTR9pCWaNyuyiP4EnwSPUu49Q1tvPW3SlE9tyw5Dk2hdQm_9dobn1TKKCuk6RgM0j7kCkwScbUayubFbV3eLIkl4yVvTnnAiOH6uhTwtPcsy35wUOmYqpPF0u_T0rRjJr-XIS1CuLodzIMbvutQqttqSqqqCKT3Sr6SwJnucCx5ueE5pz/s668/IMG_80023.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="668" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQqrjmlNTWKJXTR9pCWaNyuyiP4EnwSPUu49Q1tvPW3SlE9tyw5Dk2hdQm_9dobn1TKKCuk6RgM0j7kCkwScbUayubFbV3eLIkl4yVvTnnAiOH6uhTwtPcsy35wUOmYqpPF0u_T0rRjJr-XIS1CuLodzIMbvutQqttqSqqqCKT3Sr6SwJnucCx5ueE5pz/w492-h380/IMG_80023.JPG" width="492" /></a></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This dish does not freeze well. Cook what you can eat, then eat all that you have cooked.</span></span><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks for looking at my post.</span></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">God Bless You</span><br /></span><br />
</p></div>Stuff About ZeroBear PolyBearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402471760799633192noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-49476345171245684962024-03-14T19:56:00.005-05:002024-03-14T19:59:37.051-05:00Live from the Box....<p> The Savannah Bananas are taking on the Party Animals down in Baton Rouge. If you've never seen them before, check out the live-stream below. Jake, get them to Pearl next year. <span></span></p><a name='more'></a> <p></p><p><br /></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8QWU95eyw4c?si=mgjakK0Kik5ZiUoa" title="YouTube video player" width="500"></iframe>Kingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-71280200001825542942024-03-14T17:32:00.002-05:002024-03-14T17:32:34.088-05:00Idiot of the DaySometimes looks are inversely proportional to intelligence. Exhibit A. <span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><object><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">This Diplomatic Immunity case of the Ambassador of Bronx and the other New York Diplomats keeps getting better and better. I'm ded.💀💀 <a href="https://t.co/H3dd18fvbm">pic.twitter.com/H3dd18fvbm</a></p>— PhotographicFloridian (@JackLinFLL) <a href="https://twitter.com/JackLinFLL/status/1768099774379557103?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></object> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>
More information <a href="https://wsvn.com/news/local/miami-dade/sunny-isles-beach-traffic-stop-leads-to-womans-arrest-for-counterfeit-diplomatic-tag/">is available here</a> at the WSVN story or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sessiofficial/">check out her Instagram page. </a>Kingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-13569942592060887982024-03-14T14:46:00.004-05:002024-03-14T16:36:19.255-05:00Madison County Man Charged with Child Exploitation<p> Ridgeland Police charged Mark Wayne Williams with exploitation of children on March 9. <span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQIoEuo3R4e38iYNTp0_JidxaKTYT9AKwH6vUL20N69khQTpprRlt7QA4P_VxzPxDmgxp1XBliUkXV2lAAFirmZShyphenhyphenhQMiE1DB3Hpqh-RhrzWMRhPLCYJWqhBtIF6NcW_T3g7Bvq8poB3nncOPAu1b3wc0Br6bFFvCalFaNmLKHDZcByEx_Ct8GUSwmIg/s1282/Screenshot%202024-03-14%20at%202.42.03%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1282" data-original-width="1072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQIoEuo3R4e38iYNTp0_JidxaKTYT9AKwH6vUL20N69khQTpprRlt7QA4P_VxzPxDmgxp1XBliUkXV2lAAFirmZShyphenhyphenhQMiE1DB3Hpqh-RhrzWMRhPLCYJWqhBtIF6NcW_T3g7Bvq8poB3nncOPAu1b3wc0Br6bFFvCalFaNmLKHDZcByEx_Ct8GUSwmIg/w335-h400/Screenshot%202024-03-14%20at%202.42.03%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="335" /></a></div><br /><p>Williams allegedly went to meet a 15 year-old boy only to find out otherwise when he arrived at the designated site. The Madison resident's bond is $75,000. </p><p><br /></p>Kingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-76546444982372087432024-03-14T11:00:00.000-05:002024-03-14T11:00:00.245-05:00Shad Racks Up Another Embezzlement Conviction<p><i> State Auditor Shadrack White issued the following statement. <span></span></i></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif"></span>
</b>Today State Auditor Shad White announced former District
Secretary for the Holmes County Water and Soil Conservation District
Melissa Upchurch has pled guilty to Embezzlement. Upchurch was arrested
by agents in June 2023 and was served with a $48,160.08
demand letter. <u></u><u></u>
</p><p>Upchurch is guilty of issuing and then depositing district checks into her bank account from June 2020 to September 2022. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.biggerpieforum.org/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="450" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Ky8RM9bSPGHgaAREIvCnMJUrbfhb4MYsFiNun_SSosOukMTHgfNEnIcjUVXWtiRGkV3AEIHQbjw70_8V-XYUTwEQty57_RHRrkOxVNYTJq-2ynwD8lHRyUCAN639fkjfkbVdYLTIP6qiTNcItzrhfAV9Oryrp044SafemQY6mDG3lZHjHfv2ElGhnlM/w400-h178/BPF-ad-450x200-black.png" width="400" /></a></div> <p></p><p></p><p><u></u><u></u></p>
<p>“Thank you to the investigators who worked this matter,” said State
Auditor Shad White. “We’ve now recovered more taxpayer money in the last
five years than any other five-year period in the history of the
office, and we’re not stopping.”<u></u><u></u></p>
<p>Upchurch was sentenced by the Holmes County Circuit Court to 5 years
of house arrest, 5 years of supervised probation, followed by 5 years of
unsupervised probation, and ordered to pay restitution and fines.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPzOmUYU7owmHr90ncn0oD805GR84GjViKVj7ykjiEVulFDbHOCRg09I0YzrvEptUA3kfaGzZ5ZQyfM4f9bnhww4cUTxB5WEQ1z12WRN6UZnMjOwhO_eqFp_T5cRglk5Qg69z9Cyetyh-8aSOj0oAL51TTdbxQ5WXx52j8yWcIoYotRPW2FAb4xEmt7o/s1369/M.%20Upchurch.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1369" data-original-width="1179" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPzOmUYU7owmHr90ncn0oD805GR84GjViKVj7ykjiEVulFDbHOCRg09I0YzrvEptUA3kfaGzZ5ZQyfM4f9bnhww4cUTxB5WEQ1z12WRN6UZnMjOwhO_eqFp_T5cRglk5Qg69z9Cyetyh-8aSOj0oAL51TTdbxQ5WXx52j8yWcIoYotRPW2FAb4xEmt7o/w345-h400/M.%20Upchurch.png" width="345" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Heeeeeeelllllp!!!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p></p><p><u></u><u></u></p>
<p>Suspected fraud can be reported to the Auditor’s office online at any time by clicking the red button at
<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.osa.ms.gov&source=gmail&ust=1710445938617000&usg=AOvVaw1jnqeHk4aBG-fTbhiUBAlw" href="http://www.osa.ms.gov" target="_blank">www.osa.ms.gov</a> or via telephone during normal business hours at 1-(800)-321-1275. </p><p> </p>
<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="0.7729220222793488" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_96572" scrolling="no" src="https://www.scribd.com/embeds/713168430/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-g8n1gpmtk1UWRNIxfbIQ" title="Upchurch Demand" width="100%"></iframe>Kingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-80882773295750673012024-03-14T10:21:00.000-05:002024-03-14T10:21:02.207-05:00Deal of the DayDo you want to keep your shoes in great shape? Get some cedar shoe trees if you have not done so already. They help the shoe or boot keep its shape but also absorb the moisture left by your nasty feet. However, shoe trees run around $30 a pop so the cost can add up pretty quickly if you're trying to keep your investment from turning into an expense. Fortunately, Woodlore has a nice 2 for 1 sale going for a few days right now. <a href="https://www.woodlore.com">Check it out.</a>. The sale ends Monday. You're welcome. Kingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-1693641089893407092024-03-14T07:53:00.007-05:002024-03-14T17:16:49.379-05:00Piss Christian? (Updated)<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Green pleads guilty to civil rights violation. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The Pearl Police Department issued the following statement. </i><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yesterday, the United States Attorney’s Office unsealed a criminal information against former patrolman Michael Christian Green. The charge relates to a December 23, 2023 video the City provided to the FBI, which appears to show former Officer Green bullying an arrestee into licking his own urine off the floor. <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When the City discovered this disturbing incident over the Christmas weekend, it quickly opened an internal investigation. By December 27, 2023, Officer Green was relieved of his duties.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Following the incident, the City engaged Attorney Candace Gregory, a former federal prosecutor and Director of Mississippi’s Public Integrity Division, to supplement the City’s internal investigation. Attorney Gregory is in the process of reviewing the police department’s policies and procedures and providing training assistance.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWXD8_K5i7dlDWWentoxxMSYJSxkiZpdmbGf700y93-EE1wGJo0oD4Jj6VK6tbH-_wi3zuC7M_g0fKVHzvDAgD9adlzfnrqS9fuxweI19LeUBP4D_wDf0i7DZFLaUD8kQ6L1J4D5f3wHy0JaHEOKBmzoeRHQRehL-I6uhr_3pNq9gBlZ84qJvl66eF4w/s4032/Michael%20Green.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWXD8_K5i7dlDWWentoxxMSYJSxkiZpdmbGf700y93-EE1wGJo0oD4Jj6VK6tbH-_wi3zuC7M_g0fKVHzvDAgD9adlzfnrqS9fuxweI19LeUBP4D_wDf0i7DZFLaUD8kQ6L1J4D5f3wHy0JaHEOKBmzoeRHQRehL-I6uhr_3pNq9gBlZ84qJvl66eF4w/w300-h400/Michael%20Green.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To be clear, this incident is beyond deplorable to City officials. Michael Green does not represent the values and standards within the Pearl Police Department. The charged actions have both embarrassed and dishonored the faithful officers who serve and protect our City every day. <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We will keep you updated on further developments.</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Update: </b><i>The Justice Department issued the following statement. </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A former police officer with the Pearl, Mississippi Police Department, pleaded guilty today to one count of acting under color of law to deprive a person of his civil rights.<span style="font-size: small;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">According to court documents and information presented in court, Michael Christian Green, 26, while on duty as a certified law enforcement officer with the Pearl Police Department, forced an arrestee in custody to lick urine from the floor of a holding cell within the police department.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Green pleaded guilty to Deprivation of Civil Rights Under Color of Law in violation of Title 18 United States Code Section 242. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 12, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 12 months in prison. A federal magistrate judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Acting Special Agent in Charge Maher Dimachkie of the FBI’s Jackson Field Office made the announcement.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This case was investigated by the Jackson Division of the FBI.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Kingfish note:</b> The Justice Department charged Green with violating the suspect's civil rights. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The bill of information states Green was dispatched to address a "family disturbance" at Sam's in Pearl. Green arrested a man and took him to the holding facility at the Pearl Police Department. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The suspect knocked on the door repeatedly and said he needed to take a leak. After his pleas were ignored, the suspect went to a corner of the cell and did his business. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Bill of Information alleges Green went nuts: </span></p><br /><blockquote>
Green looked at B.E. and stated, ""Let me tell you somethin'. You see this phone? I will beat your fucking ass with it. You're fixin' to go in there and you're gonna lick that piss up. Do you understand me?"<p></p>
D. Green repeated the command that B.E. ""lick it up."" Green went on to tell
B.E. to ""go suck it up right now."" B.E. was returned to the holding cell. While standing in the doorway of the holding cell, Green commanded that B.E. get on the ground and ""suck it up."" Green removed his phone from his duty vest and filmed B.E. while B.E. got on the ground and licked his urine. (KF: He was dumb enough to film it?) B.E. gagged when he made contact with the floor. In response to B.E.'s gagging, Green told B.E., ""don't spit it out."" B.E. gagged again. Green responded to B.E.'s second gagging episode by stating, ""lick that shit up. Drink your fuckin' piss.""
B.E. gagged a third time. Green did not have a government interest or law enforcement purpose in ordering B.E. to lick his urine.<p></p>
E. B.E. was eventually allowed to leave the holding cell. After returning to the
booking area, B.E. repeatedly vomited in the booking area garbage can."</blockquote><p>Green waived indictment so he will soon plead guilty to the crime. </p><p>In a truly just world, Green would be forced to drink his own.... well, you get the idea. </p><p> </p><p></p>
Kingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-55428968019064739532024-03-13T16:07:00.002-05:002024-03-13T16:07:16.157-05:00Mayor Recommends Garbage Contract <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Y<i>ou WILL get a 96-gallon garbage cart!!! </i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The city of Jackson issued the following statement. </i><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the interest of full transparency, we are releasing to the media the recommended bid for the city’s latest garbage collection RFP process. We understand this is unusual outside of the public records process, but we feel it is necessary due to the widespread interest and importance of this contract to our residents. This follows the release of this information earlier today to all council members. </span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Please refer to the information and key points below: </span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Two bidders:</b> National Collection Systems, LLC. & Richard’s Disposal, Inc.</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Evaluation committee recommendation: <b>Richard’s Disposal, Inc.</b></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">RFP rating distribution:</span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Technical proposal – 15 percent</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">EBO Plan – 5 percent</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cost proposal – 80 percent</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">**This contract represents the best and most affordable option for our residents. </span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Prospective pricing/comparison:</span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p><div align="center" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1pt solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 116.85pt;"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Twice a Week (w/cart)</span></p></td><td style="margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 134.9pt;"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Twice a Week Now (Emergency w/o cart) </span></p></td><td style="margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.5in;"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Twice a Week (2021)</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Original Bid (w/cart)</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 116.85pt;"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">$891,000/month</span></p></td><td style="margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 134.9pt;"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">$808,035/month</span></p></td><td style="margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.5in;"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">$765,000/month</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Contract summary </span></b></span></p><ol start="1" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Contract is for a term of six years, with four options of one-year each which can be exercised by the City. <b>Section 2</b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></li></ol><ol start="2" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Compensation under the contract is $891,000 per month, which includes the cost of purchasing and delivery of up to 45,000 carts to residents.</b> <b>Section 3.1</b></span></li></ol><ol start="3" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Each year, the parties will meet to evaluate a monthly increase in compensation, which will be based on the Annual CPI for All Urban Consumers in the South Region. The increase shall not exceed 5%. <b>Section 3.4</b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></li></ol><ol start="4" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Customers can use the 96-gallon Cart provided by Richard’s, or any other Approved Container.</b>Approved Containers shall be 35 gallons or less, nonabsorbpent, leakproof, and made of material such as molded plastic or metal. <b>Section 4.1.</b></span></li></ol><ol start="5" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Richard’s will replace one lost, stolen, or damaged cart at no cost to the City or customer.</b>Richard’s will also repair damaged carts. <b>Section 6.8</b></span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 3pt;"> </span></li></ol><ol start="6" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Richard’s will collect Residential Solid Waste, Yard Waste, and Bulk Waste. <b>Section 5.1.</b> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></li></ol><ol start="7" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Regular service will be provided twice-weekly, Monday through Saturday</b>. <b>Section 5.2.</b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></li></ol><ol start="8" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Richard’s will additionally pick up Bulk Waste once-weekly. <b>Section 5.3.</b></span></li></ol><ol start="9" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Richard’s will also pick up Yard Waste on the second regularly-scheduled collection day each week.</b> Yard waste must either be in an Approved Container or yard bags. Yard bags are limited to ten in number and 60 pounds in weight. Tree limbs will be collected up to four inches in diameter and up to four feet in length, so long as they are bundled. Section 5.4</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></li></ol><ol start="10" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Richard’s will also assist with community cleanup and illegal dumping removal through quarterly pickups, providing collection bags and collecting bulk items along City roads, plus a Fall Cleanup Event, a Christmas Tree Recycling Campaign, and Spring Cleanup, and a Monthly Dumpster Day event. Section 5.6, 5.10</span></b></li></ol><ol start="11" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Richard’s will additionally provide equipment and manpower to assist City employees and volunteers with cleaning up litter and dumping sites throughout the City. Section 5.6</span></b></li></ol><ol start="12" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Richard’s will be required to maintain a local office, which will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with office staff available during those hours<b>. Section 4</b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></li></ol><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We look forward to finally moving forward with a reliable garbage contract for the City of Jackson that our residents deserve. We hope this information helps. </span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Similar to past RFP processes, we will answer as many questions about the garbage collection process as possible. But we do ask residents and the media to refer to the recommended bid proposal as a firsthand source for your information. </span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p>
<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="0.75" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_80192" scrolling="no" src="https://www.scribd.com/embeds/713145286/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-oynY3p8Z9aOtQU54qw4i" title="RDI Contract, 2024.03.12" width="100%"></iframe>Kingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-49155658337209692192024-03-13T12:34:00.005-05:002024-03-13T12:34:44.037-05:00Ag Commish Says Bills Will Cripple Fairgrounds <p><i>Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture & Commerce Andrew Gipson issued the following statement. <span></span></i></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">
Commissioner Andy Gipson announced today that
a pair of bills moving through the Mississippi Legislature this Session
are threatening to end a large number of events traditionally held at
the Mississippi State Fairgrounds and the Mississippi Agriculture and
Forestry Museum, both in Jackson, Mississippi.
House Bill 1357 and Senate Bill 2631 would restrict or prevent
Fairgrounds and Ag Museum private event funds in the form of
sponsorships, advertising and naming rights, sweeping private funds into
the “control” of the State Legislature effective July 1. Currently,
these voluntary private sector dollars fund Fairgrounds and Ag Museum
operations, improvements, and repairs. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Commissioner
Andy Gipson said, “I have already been contacted by the main Dixie
National Rodeo and State Fair sponsors, as well as by dozens of
other event promoters who are adamantly opposed to these bills. They
see this as a money-grab by the Legislature; a true attempt to
confiscate their voluntary private sponsorship dollars by the State. The
result of this legislation will either be diminished
investment in the Mississippi State Fairgrounds and the Agriculture and
Forestry Museum, or an increase in taxpayer dollars going toward those
facilities instead of private sector dollars. Both outcomes are
unnecessary. Past legislatures have created laws
and policies for the Fairgrounds and Museum to operate under state
control but in the mode of a business to save taxpayer dollars.” <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
passage of these bills would threaten not only the existence of the
Dixie National Rodeo and Livestock Shows, but also the Mississippi State
Fair and livestock shows and all the sponsored Fair activities and
sponsored Ag Museum activities in Jackson. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">In
addition, most other private events on the Fairgrounds would be in
jeopardy or have services and facilities diminished because the
Mississippi
State Fair and Dixie National Rodeo pay most of the operational and
repair costs of the State Fairgrounds.<br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Commissioner
Gipson continued, “All of our great livestock shows and horse shows
would be at risk, plus any Trade Mart, Fordice Equine Center
and Coliseum events. I do not believe our Legislators really want to
jeopardize the future of the Mississippi State Fairgrounds and Ag
Museum.” <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
Commissioner observed, “It’s bad enough our Legislature has refused to
fund the needed facilities repairs on the Fairgrounds and Ag Museum
the last three years. But now, they want to remove MDAC’s ability to
partner with our private sector sponsors to pay for what the Legislature
cannot or will not.” <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">All
affected livestock show and horse show families and promoters, 4-H and
FFA youth and all our private event sponsors should be deeply concerned
if these bills become law. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
House of Representatives passed House Bill 1357 on Monday, March 11, so
now both it and Senate Bill 2631 are in the state Senate where only
Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann has the power to make necessary
corrections to the bills. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Commissioner Gipson said, “I urge everyone affected to contact Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann at (601) 359-3200 or e-mail </span><span style="font-family: "Aptos",sans-serif;"><a href="mailto:ltgov@senate.ms.gov" target="_blank"><span style="color: #467886; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">ltgov@senate.ms.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">,
and also contact your local State Senator and tell them to stop this
money grab and support our ongoing Fairgrounds and Ag Museum events.
Ask them all to stop these bills, or work with the Commissioner to
amend HB 1357 and SB 2631.” <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Commissioner
Gipson concluded, “If the Legislature persists in passing these bills
as introduced, I can guarantee both the Fairgrounds and Ag
Museum will lose many valuable private sponsors. As a result, there
will be fewer events, less revenue generated, and less economic
development for the City of Jackson and the State of Mississippi.
Rental rates will be forced up by the Legislature on all
Fairgrounds venues. And, instead of a destination for thousands of
schoolchildren, the Ag Museum could quickly become a ghost town. I
remain cautiously optimistic that our elected Legislators will listen to
the concerns of our great event promoters as well
as our 4-H and FFA livestock and horse show families, before it is too
late.”</span></p>Kingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-24560390976221818542024-03-13T10:30:00.001-05:002024-03-13T10:30:00.330-05:00Robert St. John: Spanish BreakdownMADRID— The motto of the Boy Scouts of America is to be prepared. That’s all well and good, except I got kicked out of scouting as a Webelo (the stage between Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts). I was never awarded a preparedness merit badge, and don’t even know if there is such a thing. Though I feel as if I have armored up for all potential setbacks while hosting over 40 groups of more than 1,200 people, through lots of European countries over a six-year period. In all those travels, I have never had a transportation problem.<span><a name='more'></a></span> <p></p>
Until yesterday.<p></p>
Transportation is one of the primary factors in hosting a successful tour group. It is key to be where you need to be at the time you need to be there. It’s just as important to be picked up at the agreed upon spot at the time that was agreed upon. Any deviation in the plan leads to unhappy guests. Transportation is so important it costs almost as much as lodging, sometimes more.<p></p>
On the second day of this Spring 2024 RSJ Yonderlust Tour through Spain we encountered an issue that I have never had to deal with— the bus carrying my guests from Madrid to Toledo broke down in the middle of the Spanish countryside. Something that had to do with the electronics had failed. Our bus driver, Oscar, seemed competent, and one of our guests is an electrician, though no one could figure out a fix. We were stranded and running late for our lunch reservation. <p></p>
A travel host is as happy as his least happy guest, and there was growing potential for a busload of unhappy guests. This was uncharted territory for me. I have been blessed with six years of trouble-free transportation on my tours. That’s an impressive feat as I have hosted tours in Venice, Bologna, Milan, Rome, Amalfi, Naples, a majority of the coastline of Sicily, most of Spain, England, France, The Netherlands, Belgium, and almost every inch of Tuscany. Our guests have travelled by van, bus, horse-drawn carriage, tuk tuks, golf carts, boats, planes, four-wheelers (on an active volcano) electric mini bikes, bicycles, and by foot, all without incident. Yesterday, it looked as if my luck had run out. <p></p>
My boots-on-the-ground travel expert, Jessie Marinus, and I immediately started looking for solutions while keeping a positive attitude with the guests. To their credit, my guests seemed fine. My ego would like to think it’s because all but three of them have traveled with me before— for a few it was their fourth or fifth trip with me— but the group’s overall positive manner and optimistic outlook on life and travel was probably a more accurate explanation. <p></p>
The first key in these situations is to not look worried or stressed on the outside, no matter how one feels on the inside. The second key is to live in the solution. I’m sure there is an early version of myself that would have panicked and been visibly angry at the situation. Though being blessed with a little clarity and having a small grasp on the concept of acceptance, I chose to acknowledge the situation for what it was and to do my best to fix it as quickly as possible. All attempts to repair the bus were failing. The only answer was to have the transportation company deliver a new bus to us as soon as possible. We were halfway between Madrid and Toledo at an abandoned roundabout with only a small convenience store in sight. <p></p>
There was a possibility that a bus wouldn’t be available. Then what if there was a bus, but no available driver? How far away would they be? We could be in for a three or four hour wait with nothing to do except to waste away an entire day on this 10-day tour.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHH6wBVhbiV9NAgXxvtjtKGJwn5sYNLpLFLrtUSoq2hVaajVh63CqgIg-kTXJzajRAXaA5QZnqDaumUAqkkwAx8v26eEivsQbmXO5xOSQvLopFYyyYIv00LR3LILtqn8nE26u15zM7eDkCbeXvjC4rJojFkqDfed8ARyYMztNLzaHzjNjnYpAdUv8fzo/s3071/IMG_6952.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2173" data-original-width="3071" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHH6wBVhbiV9NAgXxvtjtKGJwn5sYNLpLFLrtUSoq2hVaajVh63CqgIg-kTXJzajRAXaA5QZnqDaumUAqkkwAx8v26eEivsQbmXO5xOSQvLopFYyyYIv00LR3LILtqn8nE26u15zM7eDkCbeXvjC4rJojFkqDfed8ARyYMztNLzaHzjNjnYpAdUv8fzo/w400-h283/IMG_6952.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /> <p></p>The other key in a situation such as this is maintaining constant communication with guests, keeping them in the loop and not guessing as to what is going on. To their credit the entire group remained happy and upbeat. Within an hour a new bus arrived, and we were on our way to Toledo. <p></p>
There is so much of this travel-hosting gig that is like the restaurant business. In the end, it’s all about hospitality. I tell the leadership team at our restaurants, “Business is problems, and a successful business is problems well handled.” Problems are going to arise. It’s inevitable. The key to happy guests, whether they are sitting in a dining room in Hattiesburg, Mississippi or on a broke down bus in Spain, is to live in the solution.<p></p>
The restaurant business really isn’t a food business, it’s a people business. The travel business is that, in reverse. It’s about people, but not the team members one works with, it’s all about the people who pay to travel. I have been blessed to host so many wonderful people over the years. When this new leg of my career began, I knew I would enjoy hosting Americans in Europe and turning them on to the people, places, food, art, architecture, and culture I had discovered on my travels. Though I never knew I would make such good and meaningful friendships.<p></p>
We travel in groups of 25. There is nothing specific about that number other than that is what the two original villas we used in Tuscany could hold. My wife and I aren’t group travel people. Not at all. I have turned down free trips from food suppliers to all sorts of locations because I didn’t want to travel with a group. For some reason these trips don’t seem like group travel. I have never been able to figure out why it doesn’t seem like group travel, but it never has. The guests who travel with me say the same. It’s like a collection of friends who have gotten together in a foreign land to discover and have fun. In the end, I believe it’s the quality of people who join me on these excursions. We almost all become new friends. This group might be the best, yet.<p></p>
Ultimately, if the Boy Scouts would have had a travel hosting or hospitality merit badge in scouting, I might would have stuck with it.<p></p>
Onward.<p></p><b>
Minestrone Soup</b><p></p>
I created a version of this in the early days of the Purple Parrot Café in the late 1980s. When we opened Tabella, I revised it and it’s a regular menu item.<p></p>
¼ c. Pure olive oil<p></p>
1 ½ c. Onion, diced<p></p>
1 ½ c. Carrot, diced<p></p>
1 c. Celery, diced<p></p>
½ c. Garlic, minced<p></p>
¼ c. Kosher salt<p></p>
1 tsp Dried basil<p></p>
1 tsp Dried oregano<p></p>
½ tsp Dried thyme<p></p>
2 tsp Fresh ground black pepper<p></p>
¼ tsp Crushed red pepper<p></p>
2 ea. Bay leaf<p></p>
2 TB Balsamic vinegar<p></p>
½ c. White wine<p></p>
¼ c. Tomato paste<p></p>
2 ea. 28 oz. can San Marzano tomatoes, chopped<p></p>
1 gal. Vegetable Stock <p></p>
2 c. Zucchini, medium dice<p></p>
2 c. Yellow squash, medium dice<p></p>
1 ea 10 oz. package frozen spinach, thawed, drained<p></p>
2 ea 15 oz. can kidney or cannelloni beans, drained<p></p>
¼ c. Pesto <p></p>
1 TB Worcestershire sauce<p></p><i>
Heat olive oil in a stockpot over medium-high heat.</i><p></p><i>
Add onions, carrots, celery, salt, peppers, basil, oregano, thyme and bay leaves. Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring frequently.</i><p></p><i>
Add wine and balsamic vinegar. Continue cooking for 3 minutes.</i><p></p><i>
Add tomato paste and cook 6-8 minutes, stirring constantly, being careful not to let it burn.</i><p></p><i>
Add canned tomatoes and chicken stock. Simmer for 1 hour.</i><p></p><i>
Add zucchini, squash, spinach and kidney beans and cook for 8 minutes.</i><p></p><i>
Remove from heat and stir in pesto and Worcestershire.</i><p></p>
Yield: 1 gallon<p></p>
</div>Kingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-36950603743465321322024-03-13T09:49:00.000-05:002024-03-13T09:49:58.787-05:00Prison for Thee but not for Me<p> It appears our favorite drug dealer, John Dowdy, III, is getting some special treatment at MDOC. While other drug dealers get to enjoy the luxuries of prison life at MDOC, Third gets to hang out at a local county jail. <span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p>
A Madison County grand jury indicted Dowdy in September 2022 for aggravated trafficking in controlled substances, possession of meth with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute MDMA, possession of alprazolam with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute alprazolam, and possession of tetrahydrocannabol. The indictment alleges Dowdy was caught with 200 grams of MDMA, between 40 and 2,500 dosage units of alprazolam. and between 10 and 30 grams of tetrahydrocannabol.<div><br />
<div>Circuit Judge Judge Brad Mills sentenced Trey John Dowdy, III to serve 30 years in prison for possessing between ten and thirty grams of MDMA with intent to distribute on August 1, 2023. <p></p>
This is where the story should end but we are talking about the Dowdys. Dowdy's father is former MBN Director John Dowdy. The elder Dowdy is an Assistant District Attorney in Pike County. <p></p></div></div><div>Dowdy was supposed to serve his sentence in the custody of MDOC. However, the elder Dowdy begged the Court to show mercy and place his son in a trusty program at a county jail at an April 2023 hearing. The former director claimed he put many people in prison as MBN Director and in his current job as a Pike County prosecutor. A sobbing Dowdy said he was fearful for his son's life. Dowdy's attorney repeated the plea at his sentencing on August 1, 2023. <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 32, 32); color: #202020;"> </span><a href="http://kingfish1935.blogspot.com/2023/04/will-judge-mills-give-dowdy-pennington.html" style="color: #911c1e;">Earlier post. </a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Judge Mills denied the request but Dowdy and his lawyer went to work on MDOC. MDOC asked Madison County Sheriff Randy Tucker to keep Dowdy in his jail as a trusty. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmoLbgjqS9_dLbvPBLuXBPBxiH-U_4QGzfHPe1qEbSoMv7Q-zSgB6svRfacZDL5RRwjqZXwvKWeqY79OWnRLmlWSqn0FyuSLKrxfvWaxaKxIb9Xg8t9qjWQ9JD3cz4QpjU22IOENdbhNxzRK_Uj2FWFlEw0H5rVS6q5UfVJPQp2Pr497Qu0vfL3acHJs/s2124/Screenshot%202024-03-13%20at%209.41.14%E2%80%AFAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="2124" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmoLbgjqS9_dLbvPBLuXBPBxiH-U_4QGzfHPe1qEbSoMv7Q-zSgB6svRfacZDL5RRwjqZXwvKWeqY79OWnRLmlWSqn0FyuSLKrxfvWaxaKxIb9Xg8t9qjWQ9JD3cz4QpjU22IOENdbhNxzRK_Uj2FWFlEw0H5rVS6q5UfVJPQp2Pr497Qu0vfL3acHJs/w400-h204/Screenshot%202024-03-13%20at%209.41.14%E2%80%AFAM.png" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Here is where things get interesting. JJ asked <i>both</i> MDOC and Sheriff Tucker for copies of all correspondence regarding Dowdy the Younger. Sheriff Tucker provided two pages of emails. He said there was not more because most of the affair was handled over the phone. </div><div><br /></div><div>The correspondence posted below makes it appear Burl Cain was involved in the decision to keep Dowdy out of an MDOC prison and housed at a county jail. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>JJ</i> filed the same public records request with MDOC. Check out what MDOC wanted for the records: </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMSNCybHNVfTxmDC-EfALQWXFK4vUCswJqnTaTJOysKvB6m_HbvLQvSn5lndeTd2KBvBRj50CS0qQt21EENFFjf4UchSpPvs5L_kPqkcek101Xbrn28W0FYQmIOCZAAFyc8oWSB3630066IBrYdAOkhP-OsoFtWpm6-vStwNPQmqadfzqvp0wMJt42Gg/s1484/Screenshot%202024-03-12%20at%202.11.28%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="1484" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMSNCybHNVfTxmDC-EfALQWXFK4vUCswJqnTaTJOysKvB6m_HbvLQvSn5lndeTd2KBvBRj50CS0qQt21EENFFjf4UchSpPvs5L_kPqkcek101Xbrn28W0FYQmIOCZAAFyc8oWSB3630066IBrYdAOkhP-OsoFtWpm6-vStwNPQmqadfzqvp0wMJt42Gg/w400-h141/Screenshot%202024-03-12%20at%202.11.28%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div>
Hmmm.... now why would MDOC try to charge so much money for two pages worth of emails? </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="0.75" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_24563" scrolling="no" src="https://www.scribd.com/embeds/712829323/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-3pLCvCB0n3qW8udNRbbB" title="Cce 03052024" width="100%"></iframe><p></p><br /><div>
<b>Kingfish note:</b> Few readers will probably be surprised at the special treatment for the drug dealing Dowdy. Dowdy and his boss, Marshall Fisher, were typical bullies as they pushed a "lock 'em up and throw away the key" approach to drugs. Yet when 3's ass was on the line in Madison County Circuit Court, Fisher and Dowdy were sitting right there in the courtroom in support of Dowdy's son. This is just one more chapter in the book that is Dowdy's repeated attempts throughout his career to game the system. </div>Kingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.com24