July 12 2012 - The Mississippi Link
Transcription
July 12 2012 - The Mississippi Link
www.mississippilink.com Inside Vol. 18, No. 38 July 12 - 18, 2012 Johnson: ‘We can’t afford for the city to get off track again’ ASU deans must reapply for jobs • P. 2 JPS Custodial staff honored • P. 8 Alcorn alum pinned as Army Colonel • P. 9 Book Review: ‘A Golden Voice’ • P. 18 Graves continues her fight for inclusion on the Nov. ballot Attorney Martin: ‘Notice of Appeal filed in Circuit Court’ By Othor Cain Managing Editor After a nearly two hour discussion that ended with two failed votes, the Hinds County Board of Supervisors are back at square one when it comes to deciding how to handle the November ballots for the election commissioners race. At issue is whether or not two candidates filed their intent to run in the proper office by the appropriate deadline. That deadline was Monday, June 4 at 5 p.m. Both Incumbent Commissioner for District 2 Bobbie Graves and Blonda Mack, who is seeking to become the commissioner for District 5, filed in the Circuit Clerk’s office. In part, according to the state statue Mississippi Code 1972 2315-213 (2011): Candidates for county election commissioner shall qualify by filing with the clerk of the board of supervisors of their respective counties a petition personally signed by not less than 50 qualified electors of the supervisors district in which they reside, requesting that they be a candidate, by 5 p.m. not later than the first Monday in June of the year in which the election occurs and unless the petition is filed within the required time, their names shall not be placed upon the ballot. In a telephone interview with The Mississippi Link, Graves said, “I filed before the deadline, my paperwork is stamped with Circuit Clerk Barbara Dunn’s signature.” Graves’ attorney Warren Martin maintains that she filed appropriately, and it was the responsibility of the circuit clerk to transfer the paperwork. “The clerk failed to take that petition and transfer it to the chancery clerk who is the clerk for the board of supervisors,” Martin said. Martin uses as his supporting document the Mississippi Consti- 50¢ Graves tution. “The reality is if there is a timely filing in circuit court, the Constitution Article 6 section 156 clearly mandates that you don’t dismiss the action, you don’t terminate the action, you transfer it to the proper clerk,” Martin said. “That wasn’t done in this case and they want my client (Graves) to bear the brunt of that mistake. It was not her mistake. The mistake was made by the circuit clerk.” It is that mistake, according to Martin and the votes taken by the board of supervisors, that led him to file a notice of appeal with the circuit court. The first vote or motion made at last week’s meeting was to include Graves, Mack and Ineava May-Pittman on the November ballot. This motion failed. “I could not support this because Mrs. Pittman didn’t get enough signatures in the first place and by voting for this, it wouldn’t give her a chance to go and get the additional signatures needed,” District 5 Supervisor Kenneth Stokes said. “The fair thing for us to do is to open the entire process back up. I am voting for Mrs. Pittman to have a chance in this election.” “Based on the action of the Graves fights ‘Continued on page 6 Mayor delivers State of The City Address By Othor Cain Managing Editor In a more than 40 minutespeech, Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. declared, “The state of the city is good.” “I’ve made promises to the citizens of Jackson, and I’ve kept those promises to the citizens of Jackson, and I’m not done yet,” Johnson said during his State of the City address, Wednesday, July 11. “So I ask you to keep this in mind - there’s rhetoric and then there’s a record. And we cannot afford for Jackson to get off track again. I promise the citizens of Jackson more accessibility, and I’m keeping that promise.” Johnson detailed, to applause, the business climate in Jackson and noted that the city was open for business. In part, he highlighted these accomplishments: • Mississippi Baptist Health Systems is spending $57 million to expand their hospital on North State Street. • The city provided nearly $700,000 in grants to around 80 businesses over the past few years, creating or retaining around 700 jobs. • The city broke ground last month on a $10.1 million project to overhaul Fortification Street. Recently, Puckett Machinery, one of Jackson’s oldest businesses, announced it was closing its doors and moving to neighboring Flowood, in part according to the owners, because of crime and a less than stellar business climate in Jackson. Bob Crechale, owner of Crechale’s Restaurant, told 16 Johnson WAPT that over the last 56 years, he has seen a lot of changes, and business could be better. “In my business here, you have to be coming to me to get here,” City Address Continued on page 6 West Jackson neighbors express concerns over proposed development JSU foundation supports idea; others are skeptical By Gail M. Brown Editor Members of the West Jackson community filled Koinonia Coffee House Tuesday evening, July 10, to voice concerns about a proposed mixed-income community development project slated for the Metro Parkway. The meeting was organized by the Best FOR* West, a group of concerned residents, and it was facilitated by Ronnie Agnew, executive director of Mississippi Public Broadcasting. Rep. Alyce Clarke, a resident of West Jackson’s Pecan Park neighborhood, told The Mississippi Link: “We are here because we want to have some input into what goes on. We want to make sure they (the developers) are going to be bringing something into the community rather than just taking out. See, what they’ll be taking out is tax base. We just don’t want to be used.” Representing the developer, Chartre Companies, LTD of Oxford, Miss., was David Kelly. He came to address residents’ con- cerns. Also in attendance were Jackson State University’s Vice President of Institutional Advancement David Hoard, who also serves as executive director of the JSU Development Foundation, the foundation’s Chairman Leland Speed, and Councilman Charles Tillman, Ward 5. The proposed project (in another plan) was actually initiated several years ago by the JSU Development Foundation. Hoard gave a brief overview. “It’s a continuation of the One University Place project,” he said. “ We have had a couple of other meetings. We wanted to make sure that people get plenty of opportunity for input into this foundation-related project. I think there has been some miscommunications.” He noted that the university and foundation are very excited. “President Meyers, myself and others have been to three or four other locations across the state to look at different facilities the Chartre Company has done in Mississippi and throughout the Bettye Dagner Cook expresses her concerns about the development Southeast, and we feel that they are one of the leading companies in the Southeast developing these type projects,” said Hoard. “We are here to, I hope, to [alleviate] any misunderstanding and fears,” Kelly said as he began. “It has always been, when we go into a community, our objective is to be a catalyst for change; a catalyst for improvement. And we do that West Jackson Continued on page 6 Jackson native and United Healthcare want everyone to ‘reclaim’ their health Author holds book signing at The Penguin Inside By Gail M. Brown Editor Michelle Gourdine, M.D. will be the first to tell you that she is no stranger to Jackson. “I grew up here, right down from the campus of Jackson State University,” she told wellwishers as they attended her June 28 book signing at The Penguin restaurant. Sponsored by United Healthcare, the book signing attracted interested individuals from around the metro area and beyond, including Vicks- Curry on ‘Obama Care’ Columnist explains shift burg, Miss. Titled “Reclaiming our Health: A Guide to African American Wellness,” the book is published by Yale University Press Health and Wellness. Through her book, Gourdine said her aim is to promote “healing bodies and restoring health by renewing minds.” “I wrote this book to empower our community to solve our own health problems and save our own lives,” she explained in her marketing materials. In the book, she educates the read- State Baptist Convention convenes in Jackson Thousands gather for the annual conference Page 7 Page 11 ers of the primary health concerns facing African Americans, who according to the Federal Office of Minority Health, are at the greatest risk of illness due to poor health. She uses her career as a physician and her life experiences as an African American to provide important “insights into the ways African-American culture shapes health choices; how beliefs, tradition and values can influence eating choices, exercise habits, and even the decision to seek medical attention.” “ Yvette Wilson remembered ” - Actress/Comedienne Page 17 United Healthcare was proud to sponsor the event. “UnitedHealthcare Community Plan chose to sponsor Dr. Gourdine’s book signing because she is a Mississippi native who shares UHC’s vision in helping people live healthier lives,” said Tangela Parker, manager of business and community development for UHC Community Plan. “She is a supporter and advocate of UHC’s Farm to Fork initiative and the content of her book runs succinctly with UHC’s mission.” (See highlights on page 17.) Author Gourdine displays her book. PHOTO BY GAIL M. BROWN Share this issue with a friend by mailing it to: JUL 2 • the mississippi link 1 New book details shooting rampage at Jackson fire station It was the darkest day in the history of the Jackson Fire Department. A disgruntled firefighter walked into the main fire station downtown and started shooting. Four of his colleagues were killed. This happened April 24, 1996. Now, 16 years later, the wife of one of the fallen firefighters and a former arson investigator have written a book about that day and what may have motivated the shooter. It’s called, “White Shirts.” The man who did the shooting, a Jackson firefighter himself, Kenneth Tornes, was wounded in a gun battle with two Ridgeland police officers, both of whom were shot, later that day. It is the inside story of the turmoil in the Jackson Fire Department that came after an outsider, Joe Donovan, who came to Jackson as a fire consultant, was named chief. Donovan was hiding under his desk as the other firemen were being killed, according to the book. The authors of the book are Noraine Moree Dave Berry, who was head of the arson division of the Jackson Fire Department and was in the building when the shootings occurred. He fired a gun at Tornes as Tornes was leaving the building. 4 July 12 - 18, 2012 2012 2 July Compiled by Othor Cain Managing Editor Miss. anti-abortion law goes before federal judge A hearing this week could help a federal judge decide whether to keep blocking a Mississippi abortion law. The state’s only abortion clinic, Jackson Women’s Health Organization, said it could be forced to close if the law is enforced. The measure would require anyone doing abortions at the clinic to be an OB-GYN with privileges to admit patients to a local hospital. Staffers at the clinic said admitting privileges aren’t medically necessary, while supporters of the law say it’s designed to protect patient safety. U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan (JERR-dun) III July 1 temporarily blocked the law. During a hearing that was scheduled for Wednesday, July 11, the clinic’s attorneys indicated that they would try and persuade Jordan to keep the law on hold, while attorneys for the state will argue it should take effect. Berry Coroner identifies man killed in Jackson house fire S M T W T F 1 8 15 22 29 2 9 16 23 30 3 10 17 24 31 4 11 18 25 5 12 19 26 6 13 20 27 2012 S 7 14 21 28 3 ASU deans asked to reapply for jobs 5 Gunshot victims crash en route to hospital Alcorn State University President M. Christopher Brown is requiring the school’s academic deans to reapply and compete for their jobs. Brown told the Vicksburg Post that Alcorn has not reposted and reevaluated the positions in many years. Brown said the process began June 29, when the jobs were listed on the school’s employment opportunities website. He said a similar application and appointment of ASU vice presidents was done in 2011. ASU has posted six dean openings: business; agriculture and applied science; education and psychology; nursing; and arts and sciences; and libraries and information resources. It was not clear if the dean of the school of graduate studies, which does not appear on the list, would also be posted. Three people shot while in car Cause of fire under investigation The body of a 59-year-old man was discovered after a house fire Tuesday, July 10, Jackson fire officials said. Fire crews got the call around 4:30 a.m.. When firefighters arrived at 1039 Marine St., the house was fully engulfed in flames. Officials said after the fire was put out, they discovered a body inside the house. “It looks like it may have originated in what would appear to be a bedroom,” said Jackson Fire Department Chief Investigator Gregory Travis. “The victim was found in a living room area.” Hinds County Coroner Sharon Grisham Stewart has identified the victim as James Ward. She said an autopsy would be performed to determine his cause of death. Investigators are working to determine what caused the fire. www.mississippilink.com Tornes Jackson police are investigating a late-night shooting. Police said three people were shot about 11 p.m., Tuesday, July 10, on Rose Street near Robinson Street. They tried to drive themselves to a local hospital, but crashed into another vehicle on West Woodrow Wilson, police said. That’s where paramedics picked them up and rushed them to a local hospital. Their conditions are unknown. Police are looking for a motive in this shooting. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 601-355-TIPS. COMMUNITY www.mississippilink.com July 12 - 18, 2012 Voting: A serious matter for Alpha Kappa Alpha For over a century, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. has been on the front lines for civil rights. That legacy continues. On Sunday, June 24, Mississippi chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha participated in a statewide training and strategy session for the upcoming 2012 election. Sorority members were trained by the Central MS Chapter of the NAACP using the Voter Activation Network (VAN). This network identifies unregistered voters and creates maps for canvassing and telephone banks. “In the spirit of Septima Clark, Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King, Alpha Kappa Alpha women are taking the lead by registering and mobilizing voters for the upcoming presidential election,” said Leyser Hayes, AKA International Connection Committee chairman. Clark, Parks, and King were all civil rights pioneers as well as members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Jackson Square Promenade Human services agency invites Hinds County citizens to its public meeting July 21 - 9 a m.- 5 p.m. You are cordially invited to join the celebration and the grand opening of Jackson Square Promenade (www.JacksonSquarePromenade.com) July 21, 9 a.m.to 5 p.m. The shopping center has been shut down for over two decades. Hinds County Human Resource Agency (HCHRA) is having its monthly Board of Directors Meeting, Wednesday, July 18, at 7 p.m., at HCHRA’s Central Office located at 258 Maddox Road, Jackson, MS 39212. The meeting is open and Hinds County citizens are encouraged to attend. Jackson Square Promenade is a 40-acre 340,000 sq. ft. and 50 spaces of outdoor mall (the largest in Jackson) that has a frontage of a mile on I-55 at Terry Road and full visibility from I-20. It would be an honor to have your presence on this day to kick off the “Thriving Jackson Square Promenade” with nearly 40 spaces that have been leased to the friendliest business owners in town that will create more than 500-plus jobs and facilitate 900 daily shoppers’ traffic in the South Jackson area. Here is a sample of the businesses: About HCHRA: For more than 35 years, HCHRA has built its solid reputation in eradicating poverty by empowering disadvantaged Hinds County citizens to become self-reliant and realize their full potential. Through Head Start and Early Head Start, rural transportation, home-delivered meals, home energy assistance, case management, and RSVP programs, HCHRA continues to improve the conditions of children, families, single adults, the elderly and the disabled in our communities. 1) The Galleria I & II office park and event center with 6 halls for weddings and functions ( 6,000 ft and up ) with 500 + occupancy According to Hayes, Alpha Kappa Alpha C.A.R.E.S About Voting was launched in 2011. “We are now down to the wire to register un-registered individuals and educate our community about the importance of this upcoming election.” 2) Skating rink, party and game room facilities Following the NAACP training session, sorority members discussed action strategies. On July 2, the Rho Lambda Omega chapter members participated in its first canvassing effort. “We honored Medgar Evers by registering voters on his birthday,” said Nsombi Lambright, social justice and human rights committee chairperson. “He was one the world’s greatest leaders and he died because of his commitment to making sure that black people had the right to vote in Mississippi. It is critical that we keep fulfilling his dream.” 4) Teen social center and after-school tutoring Throughout the fall, sorority and fraternities will implement a plan of action to educate and register voters in the MetroJackson area. THE mississippi link • 3 3) Kids counseling and mentoring, after school tutoring and day care Peoples Funeral Home Just an honest, quality and affordable service. 5) Bingo, restaurant, liquor store, jazz club and coffee house In recognition of 86 years of service, we are offering an affordable complete funeral service for $2,450.00 or $3,800.00 with cemetery space and grave line. 6) Several women boutiques, kids clothing, church outfit and shoe store 7) Senior citizen eligibility 8) Water distribution warehouse Earl S. Banks • President James “Jimmy” Stewart III • Vice President Kimberly Banks • Secretary-Treasurer 9) Dance studio 10) Hinds County Sherriff Dept. We would be happy to give you a tour of the premises You have our promise and we ask for your trust. For more information, please contact: Jessie Wright First B I LLC 2460 Terry Rd, Jackson MS 39204 Office: (601) 372 7157 Cell: (877) 337 6869 886 North Farish St. Jackson, MS 39202 601-969-3040 Note: Prices subject to change without notice. TICKETS: Adult Season: $15 • Adult Day: $10 Student Season: $10 • Student Day: $5 Ages 5 and Under: Free C h o c taw , M i s s i s s i p p i PSA Wednesday, July 11 11:00am 6:00pm 7:00pm 10:15pm Gates Open Chief Phyliss J. Anderson and Guests 2012 Choctaw Indian Princess Pageant World Series Stickball Thursday, July 12 11:00am 2:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 8:30pm 10:15pm Gates Open R.J. & Jay Paul from “Swamp People” Chief Phyliss J. Anderson and Guests Steve Azar Chris Cagle World Series Stickball Friday, July 13 10:00am 6:00pm 7:00pm 8:30pm 10:15pm Gates Open Chief Phyliss J. Anderson and Guests Indigenous Jo Dee Messina World Series Stickball Saturday, July 14 7:00am 10:00am 6:00pm 7:00pm 8:30pm 10:15pm Rez Run 2012 Gates Open Chief Phyliss J. Anderson and Guests The Lost Trailers Clint Black World Series Stickball Championship Stay at Dancing Rabbit Inn for packages that include discounted hotel rooms and pre-purchased fair tickets! Call 601-389-6600 for information and reservations. For More Information: 601.650.7450 www.ChoctawIndianFair.com This is a family, non-alcoholic event. 4 • the mississippi link July 12 - 18, 2012 www.mississippilink.com New Hope Christian School th 30 Year Celebration Friday, July 20, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. Jackson Marriott Hotel Downtown Keynote speaker: Mr. Ken Carter, a native Mississippian and the inspiration behind the movie “Coach Carter” in which he was portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson Theme: “Celebrating 30 Years: Igniting a passion, infusing young minds, and impacting the community” Tickets: $50.00 (banquet, dinner & giveaways) Saturday, July 21, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Alumni Family Fun Day New Hope Christian School Campus Admission : $10 Pastor Jerry Young Food, Fun and Fellowship Sunday, July 22, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. Worship Service New Hope Baptist Church Dr. Jerry Young, Pastor/Founder/ Headmaster Ken Carter For more information contact Mrs. Helen Young at 601-362-0912 or Mrs. Gerrilyn Thomas at 601-362-4776 Visit our web site at www.newhope-christianschool.org www.mississippilink.com July 12 - 18, 2012 Wednesday, July 4 • Canton, Miss. photos by Bernadette Otto Russell THE mississippi link • 5 6 • the mississippi link July 12 - 18, 2012 West Jackson Continued from page 1 by bringing a lot of different types of financing to the table.” Kelly said the proposed development consists of about 150 units. “One of our goals is to help create … an overlay district,” he said. “That would allow us, in the size of a community that we are talking about, to do what we call a REDA (Regional Economic Development Authority). That allows is to accomplish what the president [Dr. Carolyn Meyers] would like to see which is landscaping features, walkable paths, street scenes and verticle boxes to make it functional. You can’t do that without mass. You can’t build a few homes here; you can’t build a few homes there…You’re going to have to come in and make a sizeable investment.” Kelly explained the three types of housing which will make up the community: • Affordable Housing (at 60 percent of area medium income. For Jackson, a 4-bedroom house, family of 5, that will be anywhere from $32$37K income); • Workforce Housing (half of them has to be at 80 percent of area medium income and half at 120 percent of area medium income, so you’re talking about $64 to $68,000 in income; and • Market-Rate Housing would be whether or not one could afford the house. Citizens fired question after question at Kelly. “The reason we have so many questions for you is that Jackson State pulled a whammy on us once before with Quick Take,” said resident and former City Council member Bettye Dagner Cook. “They are very secretive when it comes to this community. I’m just going to tell you up front, we felt like this was a secret, too. So, we have a bitter taste in our mouths when it comes to Jackson State, LLC and all these LLCs.” Kelly responded by saying, “We were asked by Leland Speed to consider this. He came to us and said, ‘will you be willing to do a www.mississippilink.com City Address community,’ and we said, yes, we would. We were not aware of all of the ‘fun’ you all have been having for several years.” A hint of laughter surfaced from the audience. Kelly continued, “So, we kind of walked into this kind of like you. Now we find ourselves here, and we are not in a hurry. We’ll sit down and we will work through it. We’ll show you what the plans are. We are going to work with you.” He stressed that Meyers, Speed and his company do not have any secrets. “We are going to show you everything that we are going to do. And you are going to get to make comments on it. Some things we can change, and some things we can’t.” One resident wanted to know if the company could provide a model of what the community would look like. “No ma’am, there will not be a model. We’ll show drawings,” Kelly said. “I know you’ll show drawings, but drawings don’t show what a model could tell,” the woman said. Kelly then said, “Typically, we don’t, but I will see what we can do.” Charles Allen, another attendee, was concerned about the fence. Kelly indicated that the fence would be a wrought iron fence, one that one could see through. “It’s more of an ambiance. It will have landscaping in front of it. It is not a foreboding fence,” he said. Kelly said it would be more to keep people from walking in residents’ yards. The JSU Development Foundation has slated about a 15-acre track across from Koinonia it acquired some years ago during Quik Take as the main area for the project. Chartre will maintain the property for 15 years. After which, it will give the occupants the option to buy. If a house cost $150K initially, after 15 years, it could be purchased for $50. Their South Jackson Timber Falls Community is one of their developments with a similar setup. “The people in the West community are concerned about what happens after 15 years,” said Dr. William Cooley, a respected businessman and retired JSU professor who lives in the Woodlea neighborhood in North Jackson. “Right now, we don’t have a history because no one has done this before. I really think that if the blend is right and if the community continues to have input, that it would probably be good for the city. I want it to be what the West Jackson people would want. I love the West Jackson community.” Businesswoman Lee Harper, owner of Koinonia, said she feels many of the residents’ questions were answered, but she still thinks there is a split among residents for or against the effort. “I need to have some more questions answered before I can feel comfortable with it,” she said. Native Jackson business developer Malcolm Shepherd said a few months ago when he heard of this project,” it was totally low income housing period. “From what I saw on the drawings, it lacked some amenities in green spaces, and not necessarily addressing some of the issues a developer should address in a community. Today, what I am hearing is a metamorphous of the development now….which sounds wonderful, but it should have been planned like that from the beginning,” Shepherd said. “So, I feel differently than I did the first time I heard it.” Tillman did not give the project a thumbs up or down when asked. However, he told The Mississippi Link later that he does not particularly care for the proposed location of the project. “No, not right there. It would take away from the entrance to Jackson State,” Tillman said. There are still a number of steps and processes the proposal has to go through like rezoning request, etc. Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. said citizens can address their concerns before the rezoning board. Best FOR* West will meet again, Tuesday, July 17, at the Koinonia Coffee House at 5 p.m. Continued from page 1 Crechale said. “There’s no other reason to be over here, except to come eat with me if you’re one of my customers.” That’s because, he said, the Highway 80 corridor is in sore need of new development. Johnson also tackled crime during his annual address. “I promised to have three recruit classes this year, and we just graduated the third one last week,” he said. “I am as concerned and as frustrated as citizens are when violent crime occurs. This violence has many factors, some social in nature, but we cannot allow these crimes to go on and to disrupt the very fiber of our community.” Johnson encouraged every citizen to get involved with the city’s effort to combat violent crime. “I will be calling on every segment of this community to get involved as we look to develop solutions that we can work together to curb senseless crime,” he said. To read the mayor’s state of the city address in its entirety or view his speech, visit our website at www. themississippilink.com that meeting we had five days from their vote to file this appeal and we did that,” Martin said. “We must never take away the will of the people and my client is the incumbent and that was the will of the people four years ago.” Martin has received notification in his response to the brief filed. The case will be assigned to Senior Circuit Court Judge Tomie Green. Both Martin and Hinds County Board of Supervisors Attorney Crystal Martin will review and submit briefs explaining their position and also submit potential dates to Green’s clerk. “Obviously, I’m going to pursue this vigorously with the understanding that it is an emergency because time is of the essence,” Martin said. The other issue is whether or not one candidate was given proper notice about not having enough signatures. Stokes maintains that Pittman was not notified in the proper amount of time that some of the signatures she secured did not meet the qualifications. “I wasn’t going to pursue it any further, but if they had voted to open this up, I would,” Pittman said. “Supervisor Stokes’ help on my behalf was unsoliciated.” Graves fights Continued from page 1 Hinds County Board of Supervisors, we felt the need to take this decision out of their hands and place it in the hands of a judge,” Martin said. “I think it will be handled best in the courts, because essentially what happened at that meeting you had two votes without any action.” The second motion offered by Supervisor Phil Fisher of District 4 during the board meeting was to certify all of the other candidates that according to him meet all of the qualifying deadlines and other requirements to seek this office. This motion failed as well. “Clearly this matter is not over; leaving The Mississippi Link TM Volume 18 • Number 38 July 12 - 18, 2012 © copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Publisher.................................................Jackie Hampton Managing Editor.....................................Othor Cain Editor.......................................................Gail M. Brown Religion Editor........................................Daphne Higgins Photographers........................................Kevin Robinson & Jay Johnson Graphics..................................................Marcus Johnson Writer.......................................................Monica Land Member: The Mississippi Link [USPS 017224] is published weekly by The Mississippi Link, Inc. Offices located at 2659 Livingston Road, Jackson, MS 39213. Mailing address is P.O. Box 11307, Jackson, MS 39283-1307 or e-mail us at: [email protected]; Please visit our website at: www.mississippilink.com. Phone: (601) 896-0084, Fax 896-0091, out of state 1-800-748-9747. Periodical Postage Rate Paid at Jackson, MS. Deadline: The deadline for submitting items to be considered for publication is Tuesday at 10 a.m. Subscriptions are $32 per year; $64 for two years or $96 for three years. Postmaster: Send all address changes to The Mississippi Link, P.O. Box 11307, Jackson, MS 39283-1307. Advertising: For all advertising information, please call (601) 896-0084. The Mississippi Link accepts no responsibility for unsolicited materials and in general does not return them to sender. Manuscripts and photographs submitted for publication are welcome by The Mississippi Link, but no responsibility can be taken for sources considered to be authoritative, because the publication cannot guarantee their accuracy. Reproduction or use, without permission, of editorial or graphic content, is prohibited. Opinion www.mississippilink.com July 12 - 18, 2012 THE mississippi link • 7 Are some still fighting the Civil Healthcare momentum War in America over affordable shifts toward Obama health and immigration? By George E. Curry NNPA Columnist By Hardy L. Brown Special from Black Voice News With the way some governors and congressional people are reacting to the United States Supreme Court ruling that The Affordable Health Care Act is constitutional indicates to me that we are still fighting the Civil War in this country. Those individuals call it “Obama Care” which I read as code for race. This ruling came on the heels of an earlier decision by the same court to strike down parts of the State of Arizona’s passage of a very restrictive immigration law aimed at our Latino brothers and sisters in this country. It has become crystal clear that most Americans have come to grips with these two issues and agree that the court was correct in both decisions. We all know that our health care delivery system is broken and must be corrected. Even those who still say that they want to repeal what the president, congress, and the court have said is legal say the system is broken and needs repairing. We all know people who need care and cannot afford it. We all know families who have had to remove children from their health plan because of age before they are established and the child can’t get established. Your child comes out of college in their early 20s trying to get a job with benefits but those jobs have been outsourced to other countries. If Kaiser Foundation Health Plan had made us drop my son, Hardy II, before he had gotten established, we would have gone to the poor house when he broke his leg and was hospitalized for a month. He had just graduated from Wilberforce University and unemployed when the accident happened near Cal State University, San Bernardino. There is no way we could have covered the financial cost of his excellent care at Kaiser in Fontana. Yet, we have governors from the poorest states in the country saying they will reject the coverage for the people in their state. These states have high populations of African Americans, Latinos and people living below the poverty level and sadly do not vote in high numbers. I think these leaders need to consult with their providers of health care in their state and question the wisdom of denying health coverage to their citizens. Regardless, the Affordable Health Care Act passed by congress and signed by President Barack Obama is the law of the land in America. With the U. S. Supreme Court taking the thunder out of the State of Arizona’s Immigration Law, in essence saying that only the federal government has the right to make and enforce immigration laws, this did not sit well with these same people. Now, I will admit something needs to be done about people coming into the country illegally, it has become a complicated problem. I know a young lady that had to be deported to Mexico and it is a horrible thing to see that happen. She was a good college student and involved in community activities to assist children. Then there are others that work in agriculture on large farms to help harvest the food we eat, while others get legal visas and when they expire never go back home. No one political party or group of people has an answer that will satisfy everyone but we must treat every group with respect while we work toward a solution. We cannot deny our neighbors basic human rights if they are in need. We cannot stop and ask people for legal papers and identification just because we suspect they are here illegally. Yes, the more things change the more they stay the same. The decisions by the United States Supreme Court and the reactions by some who vow to not abide by the law, only highlight that. They should ask themselves are they still fighting the Civil War? Read more: http://www.nnpa. org/news/commentary/are-somestill-fighting-the-civil-war-inamerica-over-affordable-healthand-immigration/#ixzz209jbvzA5 NAACP and Urban League have lost their way By Raynard Jackson NNPA Columnist As the NAACP and the National Urban League, the supposed premier civil rights groups in the United States, gather this week and next for their annual conventions, this is as good as time as any to challenge their agendas. We can begin with some questions: When civil rights are discussed in the media, you never have the reporter define what civil rights are? When you see Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton described as civil rights leaders, what does that really mean? Who made them leaders and what is their leadership based on? How did civil rights come to mean protections and rights based on sexual preference, gender identity and illegal status in a country? If civil rights theory is based on the protection of the individual and his rights, how do you explain the constant demand for inclusion in the definition of civil rights by all kinds based on group identity? For example, we have the NAACP and the National Urban League expending precious political capital on extraneous issues such as seeking equal rights for illegal immigrants. They want illegals to have every right that citizens have, including access to social programs, driver’s licenses, and in-state tuition for colleges and universities. What sense does it make to give benefits to members of a certain group - American citizens - and then to allow someone who is not a member to get the same benefit? That’s insane. Can you imagine a non-member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame demanding the same benefits as a member? They would be run out of court if they peti- tioned for such a benefit. Are civil rights a “universal” right and who gets to define what those rights are? There are a lot of Muslim women in the Middle East who don’t want women to be able to dress like a “modern” woman, or have the right to vote. A perfect example is Saudi Arabia. While there is some demand for reform, there is significant support for the status quo. Who’s right? The NAACP and the National Urban League have both lost their way. They have strayed way off course from their original vision. Could this be, unlike the days of old, why high profile professional athletes have no relationship with these groups? Could this be why people like me will never join these groups? The NAACP and the National Urban League are unofficial arms of the Democratic National Committee, though each claims to be non-partisan. If you go to their websites and look at who is paying for their conventions, you’ll see a Who’s Who of white corporate America. But, why is there no financial support listed from any of the most successful black businessmen in this country? People like Earl Graves (publisher of Black Enterprise, Dave Stewart, CEO of World Wide Technology or Earvin “Magic” Johnson, former N.B.A. great and successful businessman. If you can’t get support from within your community, how can you make the case for someone outside of your community to support you? In other words, do you have “skin” in the game? Maybe there is a reason for this lack of support. Maybe these groups are not saying or doing anything that is relevant to these individuals or companies. Political or financial capital tends to go where there is a need and where there is some hope of a return on invest- ment. What do these corporations get in return, other than “race” insurance? While the black unemployment rate continues to linger around 14 percent, these groups are fighting to legalize 20 million illegals who are going to compete for low-skilled jobs with the very people these groups claim to represent. While the black family is disintegrating right before our eyes, these groups are focusing on homosexual rights, another sign they are out of touch with the black community. The first black president is also out of touch with the people who gave him 96 percent of their vote. Yet, these groups remain silent. Or worse, they jockey to see who can get the president or his top cabinet members to appear before their annual convention. If these two groups disappeared tomorrow, would our community be any worse off? I’ll let you answer that question for yourself. So, while these groups are spending millions of dollars for their conventions over the next two week, what are they doing to shore up the economic infrastructure of our community? Would our community be better off if they skipped those annual gatherings and invested it in our inner cities? What is the relevance of these groups to our community if their mission continues to drift away from their core purpose? In the military, this is called “mission creep.” I fully believe organizations must evolve to remain relevant; but you can’t allow the organization to morph into something that is not part of the core mission. And that’s exactly what they have done. Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-public relations/government affairs firm. His website is www.raynardjackson. com. Since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act two years ago, polls have consistently shown that a slight plurality of Americans have opposed the measure. But public opinion now seems to be shifting in President Obama’s favor, with a slim plurality supporting the landmark healthcare measure. The Kaiser Health Tracking Poll, released a week after the Supreme Court ruling upholding the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), shows that 47 percent approve of the Supreme Court ruling, 43 percent oppose and 10 percent are uncertain. Not surprisingly, as is the case with so many social issues, there is a deep political divide, with 83 percent of Democrats preferring to keep the law as is or expanding it and 79 percent of Republicans wanting to repeal it. Independents are divided, with 49 percent wanting to keep or expand the law and 41 percent favoring repeal. A clear majority of Americans - 56 percent - are tired of the political bickering and want opponents to “stop their efforts to block the law and move on to other national problems.” An even larger 82 percent of Democrats share that sentiment. However, if Republicans have their way, that is unlikely to happen soon. According to the poll, 69 percent of opponents want to “continue trying to block the law from being implemented.” Among independents, 51 percent favor moving on to other issues, and 41 percent are for continuing the fight. Because the Affordable Care Act was modeled after the health plan created by Mitt Romney when he was governor of Massachusetts, Romney is in an untenable position as he tries to draw a nonexistent distinction between what he did as governor and what Obama is supporting as president. That political contortion, delivered in the midst of blistering attacks on what Romney characterizes as “Obamacare,” has led to major flip- flopping in the camp of the Republican standard bearer who is trying to shed that label. Central to the debate is Chief Justice John Roberts’ majority opinion that ACA is constitutional under Congress’ powers of taxation. A key provision of the health law is the individual mandate, a requirement that those who can afford it must buy insurance or face a financial consequence. Obama has argued that because a person has the option of purchasing health insurance - a choice one does not enjoy when it comes to taxes the punishment for failing to comply should be more accurately described as a penalty, not a tax. Romney’s problem is that he made the identical argument as governor. For political reasons, however, Romney does not want to repeat that argument as Republicans try to use the ruling as proof that the president’s signature legislation is a massive tax hike on Americans. On the CBS News broadcast “Face the Nation,” House Speaker John Boehner said, “It’s now a tax, since the court says it’s a tax.” That is directly at odds with what Romney said as governor. Eric Fehrnstrom, a senior advisor to Romney, said in an interview on MSNBC: “The governor believes that what we put in place in Massachusetts was a penalty, and he disagrees with the court’s ruling that the mandate was a tax.” But “the governor” promptly threw Fehrnstrom under the bus. “While I agreed with the dissent [that a health mandate is not a tax], that’s overtaken by the fact that the majority of the court said it’s a tax and therefore it is a tax,” Romney said in an interview with CBS News, contradicting himself and his senior campaign aide. Politics aside, past polls showing most Americans opposed to the Affordable Care Act may have been misleading. Although the public expressed opposition to the law, when the actual provisions of ACA are described, there is widespread support even among Republicans. A poll released last month by Reuters/Ipsos found: • Eighty-six percent of Republicans favor “banning insurance companies from cancelling policies because a person becomes ill.” • Eighty percent of Republicans favor “creating an insurance pool where small businesses and uninsured have access to insurance exchanges to take advantage of large group pricing benefits.” • Seventy-eight percent of Republicans support “banning insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions.” • Fifty-seven percent of Republicans support “providing subsidies on a sliding scale to aid individuals and families who cannot afford health care insurance.” • Fifty-four precent of Republicans favor “requiring companies with more than 50 employees to provide insurance for their employers.” • Fifty-two percent of Republicans favor “allowing children to stay on their parents’ insurance until age 26.” These findings prove that the Obama administration has done an extremely poor job conveying the benefits of the Affordable Care Act to the public. If Romney wants to make this a campaign issue, Obama should gleefully borrow a page from Ronald Reagan when he told Congress in 1985 that he would veto any bill that would raise taxes. To those considering testing his resolve, the actor-turned-president, borrowing a line from Harry Callahan played by Clint Eastwood in the film Sudden Impact, said, “Go ahead, make my day.” George E. Curry, former editor-inchief of Emerge magazine, is editorin-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service (NNPA) and editorial director of Heart & Soul magazine. He is a keynote speaker, moderator, and media coach. Curry can be reached through his Website, www.georgecurry.com. You can also follow him at www.twitter.com/currygeorge. Sick of healthcare lies By Bill Fletcher, Jr. NNPA Columnist The on-going debate about healthcare reform hit me this week when I became quite ill. I am one of the lucky ones. I have an employer-provided healthcare plan so I was ultimately able to go to a medical facility, get diagnosed and begin treatment. My co-pay was minimal, and certainly would not have put me under water. But what if I had not been so lucky? I use the term “lucky” quite specifically since having healthcare, at least until President Obama’s reforms, has been the luck of the draw: Did you belong to a union? Did you have an employer that provided insurance? Did you have enough money to pay for it on your own? Not to mention the actual quality of your plan, if you were, like me, lucky to have one. Obama’s healthcare reform did not go as far as it needed to, and, with all due respect, made too many compromises with privatesector interests. In that sense, the struggle is not over for universal healthcare. President Obama, both because of his connections with corporate America and his early belief in bi-partisanship, sincerely seemed to believe that reasonable people could strike a compromise. He could not accept, and perhaps still cannot completely accept, that the Republicans from day one of his administration - have been out for blood. We needed and still need full healthcare reform. We need, in other words, the extension of Medicare to cover us all. We have to reject the false notion that this means a loss of jobs. While I have been ill this week I have considered many of the arguments raised by the Republicans against Obama’s plan, a plan that has now been upheld by the Supreme Court as constitutional. The most ironic of the arguments comes from Mitt Romney, who is in no position to criticize the plan since it is largely based upon the one that he initiated as governor of Massachusetts. But the arguments of the Republicans actually are deeper and meaner than Romney’s flip-flopping. They go to the question of whether there are, or should be, a “deserving” population and an “undeserving” population. This may sound vaguely familiar, and so it should since it goes back to the Reagan era separation of the poor into the “deserving” and the “undeserving.” In both cases, a right-wing moral judgment has been cast against a segment of the population. In today’s situation, the notion is simple: the right-wing argues that there is a segment of the population that has done little to earn any of the so-called entitlements that they receive. Therefore, these should be cut. Flowing from this fuzzy line of thinking is Republican opposition to Obama’s plan - Romney’s hypocrisy notwithstanding - becomes more understandable and equally unsettling. As far as they are concerned, let the so-called undeserving swing in the wind and look out for themselves. And if this means that this undeserving population cannot get access to quality healthcare, jobs, food housing, proper education, etc., as far as the right-wing is concerned, so be it. Just in case you think that the right-wing is not talking about you, let me clarify who they see as the undeserving populations: the poor (the right-wing is not making the distinction anymore between a ‘good’ and ‘bad’ section); people of color; youth; immigrants of color; low-waged workers; and in many cases, anyone who makes less than $100,000 a year. Do you see yourself in that picture? This is what the November 2012 election is all about. It is not about Obama and his record. It’s really about whether you have a right to be treated for illnesses in such a way that you are not cast into the bottomless pit of debt and poverty. Sick or not, there is no way that I am staying home on Election Day. Bill Fletcher Jr. is a senior scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies, the immediate past president of TransAfrica Forum, and the co-author of Solidarity Divided. He can be reached at papaq54@hotmail. com. Editorials and Letters to the Editor may be e-mailed to [email protected] or mailed to 2659 Livingston Road, Jackson, MS 39213. The views and opinions expressed on the Op/Ed pages are not necessarily the views and opinions of The Mississippi Link. The Mississippi Link also reserves the right to edit all material for length and accuracy. 8 • the mississippi link July 12 - 18, 2012 www.mississippilink.com JPS Custodial Services staff honored at annual meeting and awards program The Mississippi Link Newswire School Board Vice President Linda Rush joined Jackson Public Schools’ custodial foremen in celebrating the accomplishments of members of the district’s custodial services force. Zone foremen James Brown, Sandra Irvin, Tracy Edwards and George Livingston carried out the program and presented awards to honorees during the event held June 15 at Cardozo Middle School. Recognizing that custodial staff are essential to successful schools, facilities and operations leadership recognized them for their service to the district during the morning in- service and awards program. Awards were given for Cleanest Building, Most Improved, Perfect Attendance, Above and Beyond, and for five, 10, 15, and 20 Years of Service. 10 Years, Alfred Taylor, CDC 10 Years, Amos Sterling, Central Office 10 Years, David Lindsey, Dawson 10 Years, Frederick Forbes, Walton 20 Years, Robert Atkinson, Davis 10 Years, George Hall, Wilkins 10 Years, JosephineVaughn, Van Winkle 10 Years, Keith Barnes, Peeples 10 Years, Leroy Smith, Van Winkle Retiring, Annie Minter, Lee 10 Years, Luretha Little, Johnson 10 Years, Ronnie Smith, Johnson 10 Years, Willie John- 15 Years, Gennette Nor- Retiring, Clydell Morris, son, Bradley wood, McWillie Northwest 15 Years, Nicholas Livingston, Watkins Lackey to speak at JPS summer commencement The Mississippi Link Newswire Jackson State University Professor of Higher Education Dr. Hilliard Lackey is the Jackson Public Schools summer commencement speaker which will be held on the campus of Callaway High School, Wednesday, July 25, at 6:30 p.m. Also a columnist, Lackey’s speech will be based on one of his columns: “We Rise to Our Own Expectations.” A Jackson State University alumnus, Lackey is senior education consultant with Young Sanford Marketing & Media Services, in Memphis, Tenn. Lackey may be contact via Email: hlackey@bellsouth. net.) Lackey JPS’ new school board officers noted The Mississippi Link Newswire The Jackson Public School District Board of Trustees recently announced its new officers: PRESIDENT - Monica GilmoreLove, Ward 1. A 20-year veteran of the environmental consulting business and currently works for a national environmental and geotechnical consulting firm, she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Mississippi State University and is a former student of the preengineering program at Alcorn State University. An alumna of the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership’s Leadership Jackson program (Class of 2009-2010), she is also a graduate of the Parents for Public Schools’ Parent Leadership Institute, and the 2009 Volunteer of the Year for the City of Ridgeland Chamber of Commerce. She is the mother of three JPS students and an active member of Anderson United Methodist Church, where she assists with the church’s communication ministry and Girl Scout troop. She is an alumna of the Gamma Phi and Lambda Eta Chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority at Alcorn State University and Mississippi State University, respectively, and has served as an officer and a member of the PTSA at McWillie, Power APAC and Chastain schools. VICE PRESIDENT - Linda F. Rush, Ward 6. Rush and her husband Dr. Timothy W. Rush are the proud parents of two children - Tim II and Isaiah. She has served 20 years as a PTSA advocate and is a member of College Hill Baptist Church, where she serves as youth director. She is a lifetime member of the local and national Jackson State University (JSU) Alumni Association and a Diamond Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. A member of the Siwell Middle School PTSA, she previously held the distinction of having the largest PTSA membership in Mississippi. SECRETARY - Tim Collins, Ward 5. He is married to the former Tammie Holden, and he has a son, Darion, and a stepson, Howard. He currently serves as the executive director of the Mississippi Housing Partnership. He holds a bachelor’s de- gree in mass communications and a master of public policy and admin- Gilmore-Love istration degree from JSU. During graduate studies, he interned with the Mississippi Institute for Small Towns and the Rush Jackson Metro Housing Partnership (now the Mississippi Housing Partnership). A 2000 graduate of Leadership Collins Jackson and a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and the North Jackson Rotary Club, he also serves on the Governance Council of Catholic Charities, Inc., Diocese of Jackson, and the Board of Directors for Partners to End Homelessness, and as a part of the leadership team for the Coalition for a Prosperous Mississippi. He and his family attend the New Galilean M. B. Church. Crushed Concrete For Sale MDOT Approved #6-10 Crushed Concrete Driveway Material Pick Up Price Our Yard $ 20.00/ SQ.YD. Delivered Price 20 Mile Radius $ 27.00/ SQ.YD. (12 YARD MIN.) Material Delivered & Installed $ 31.50/ SQ.YD. (12 YARD MIN.) Call 601.850.6519 EDUCATION www.mississippilink.com July 12 - 18, 2012 THE mississippi link • 9 Alcorn alumnus Stephen Kent ’90 pinned as U.S. Army Colonel at his alma mater The Mississippi Link Newswire ALCORN STATE - A great occasion marked the beginning of the 4 of July week at Alcorn: its distinguished alumnus Stephen E. Kent ’90 was pinned as a Colonel in the United States Army on the Lorman campus, Sunday, July 1. Kent’s family, friends, fellow Alcornites and Alcorn President M. Christopher Brown II gathered in the Gold Room of the Dr. Clinton Bristow Dining Hall for the promotion celebration. “This is a great day for Alcornites,” said President Brown proudly. “We celebrate the achievements of our graduates and thank Colonel Kent for his service to our nation and the world. Alcorn is here for him and wishes him well in his next assignment.” Kent’s brother LTC Patrick F. Kent ’93 presided over the ceremony. “Stephen was my role model and the reason I came to Alcorn and joined ROTC. He is truly a big brother and mentor to me. Stephen was the first in our family to become an officer, and today, I couldn’t be more proud of him.” Kent was pinned by his former high school ROTC instructor MG(R) John H. Bailey ’83, his wife Monica Perkins Kent and sons Corey and Jared. “Only three out of 100 second lieutenants are commissioned colonels,” proclaimed General Bailey. “But I am not surprised that Stephen achieved this high rank. Even back then, in high school, he possessed the qualities necessary to succeed in the Army. He was an exceptional cadet. Congratulations Colonel Stephen E. Kent.” “It is an amazing day for Stephen, for our family and for the entire community,” said Kent’s first cousin Brenda Buck, Jefferson County administrator. “It’s an honor for him to come to the place of his humble beginnings, Alcorn, to celebrate and share his success with us.” During his remarks, Colonel Kent thanked his mother, wife, sons, his Alcorn family and everyone who helped educate and support him during his journey to success. “I feel so blessed and honored to have attained the rank of Colonel. Your efforts and your love have made me the person Oath of Office. Colonel Ken, left, and LTC Kent, right From left, President Brown, Colonel Kent, General Bailey and LTC Kent. that I am. Iron sharpens iron - all of you who have sent up prayers on my behalf - thank you for blessing me. We made Colonel today.” A Fayette, Miss. native Kent added, “I grew up in Jefferson County, one of the poorest parts of the country, and I hope that my example has shown to young people that you can make the best out of any circumstances. It takes hard work, dedication, good attitude, and professionalism to succeed. Nobody says it’s Pinning of Colonel Kent easy, but what I achieved is not a miracle. You all can do it.” Kent is a 1987 graduate of Jefferson County High School and was commissioned a distinguished military graduate in 1990 by the Army ROTC Program at Alcorn where he also received his bachelor’s degree in business administration. Kent recently served as chief of the Plans & Operations Division (G8), for the United States Army Central (USARCENT) at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. UMMC faculty, students selected to participate in first GE National Medical Fellowships The Mississippi Link Newswire Two faculty members and three medical students of the University of Mississippi Medical Center have been selected to participate in the first year of the GE-National Medical Fellowships’ Primary Care Leadership Program (PCLP). The program’s goal is to provide future health-care professionals the opportunity to experience primary care practice in community health centers across the country with the hope of drawing them into primary care. The four pilot sites for the program are Los Angeles, Phoenix, Nashville and Jackson, and 38 fellows from medical, nursing and physician assistant programs from across the country have been assigned to community health centers in these cities because of the shortage of primary care in these areas. The program is funded through a $2.3 million grant from the GE Foundation. Dr. Thais Tonore, associate professor of family medicine, said programs like this help to encourage medical students who want to return to their communities as family doctors. Often by the time students reach their third-year of medical school, they are swayed by mounting student debt and advice to specialize in a particular field of medi- cine. “The people who work in these clinics have an interest in primary care. They will get to experience it early, which will help to maintain their interests,” she said. Tonore and Dr. David Norris, assistant professor of family medicine, will mentor six medical students as they complete 200 service learning hours combined with leadership development. The six students are Kristie Alvarez, Hal Flowers, and Carolita Heritage from UMMC, Tiffany Jackson from Mercer University School of MedicineMacon, Ga., Caroline Price of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Jaleen Sims of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine-Carbondale. They will gain hands-on experience at the JacksonHinds Comprehensive Health Center and the Robert Smith Community Health Center. “With an alarming shortage of primary care professionals anticipated in the years to come, PCLP enlists talented and motivated students to be part of the solution. We hope to ignite these students’ passion for a future career in medically underserved communities,” said Bob Corcoran, vice president, GE Corporate Citizenship and president and chair, GE Foundation. UMMC faculty will mentor six students participating in the GE-NMF Primary Care Leadership Program. The students are, seated from left, Carolita Heritage from UMMC, Hal Flowers from UMMC, Caroline Price from the University of Alabama-Birmingham, Jaleen Sims from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, and standing from left, Kristie Alvarez from UMMC and Tiffany Jackson from Mercer University School of Medicine. Dean of JSU College of Coleman recceives Gcac Education chosen for Athletic Director of the year exclusive conference The Mississippi Link Newswire Daniel Watkins, dean of the Jackson State University College of Education and Human Development, has been chosen to participate in the Rutgers Graduate School of Education HBCU College of Education Dean’s Think Tank, July 11-12 at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J. He will participate in a two-day experience designed to create spaces for critical and on-going dialogue to illuminate important issues in the P-20 spectrum. In an effort to uphold the mission of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Chair in Education, which is Promoting Potential Through Partnership, Think Tank members will engage in discussions about social justice The Mississippi Link Newswire TOUGALOO - The Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) recently announced its 2012 Athletic Director (AD) of the Year. Athletic Director at Tougaloo, College Dr. James C. Coleman, received this prestigious honor which was voted on by his fellow ADs. Coleman, a 1961 graduate of Tougaloo College, will be celebrating 50 years of service as an educator and administrator this Dr. Daniel Watkins, dean of the JSU College of Education and Human Development. issues and will be led by facilitators from Temple University, University of North Carolina-Charlotte, and Ohio State University. For information about advertising in The Mississippi Link please call: 601-896-0084 or e-mail [email protected] www.mississippilink.com PSA year. Coleman began his journey in athletics as a coach and moved up to athletic director after serving in several other positions like sports information director and athletic trainer. After many years in athletics, Coleman moved to take on other administrative duties. In 2005, he was again appointed to the athletic director position. Under his leadership, the athletics department has soared to new heights. Coleman “One Goal, One Valley” The Mississippi Valley State University - Holmes County Alumni Chapter has set a goal to recruit 100 or more members during 2012. If you are a graduate or have attended Mississippi Valley State University, we are asking that you join us as alumni in helping build our chapter for growth and prosperity to help meet the needs of our alma mater, Mississippi Valley State University. By working together we can make “Valley” shine. We look forward to seeing you at our next scheduled meeting on Sunday, Aug. 19, 4 p.m., Board of Supervisors’ Building, 315 Court Square, Lexington, Mississippi. For more information, please contact President Leroy Riley at 834-3481/834-4886. “One Goal, One Valley” Ennis B. Rucker, Public Relations Officer 662.235.5412 HEALTH 10 • the mississippi link July 12 - 18, 2012 www.mississippilink.com Mississippi continues to lead in passage of comprehensive smokefree air ordinances The Mississippi Link Newswire The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) commends the state’s 58 smokefree cities for protecting the health of their citizens with the passage of comprehensive smokefree air ordinances. The American Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR) Foundation recently recognized Mississippi at the Mississippi Municipal League annual conference in Biloxi as the second place recipient of the Smokefree Air Challenge award. This award was established by ANR in 1998 to acknowledge and recognize states that excel in passing laws for 100 percent smokefree workplaces. “The smokefree air policies implemented by these cities will protect all employees and customers in businesses and other public places from the harmful effects of breathing secondhand smoke,” said Roy Hart, director of the Office of Tobacco Control at MSDH. “There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.” In 2011, a total of 10 Mississippi cities passed comprehensive smokefree air ordinances. Alabama came in first place as the state with the passage of the most new comprehensive smokefree air ordinances last Eating for a healthy heart A Heart-Healthy Diet Plan By Becky Hand, MS, RD, LD with Nicole Nichols, Health Educator Looking for ways to kick start your heart-healthy lifestyle? Start by looking at your diet. Poor food choices can have a negative effect on your heart, weight and overall health; but making small, sustainable changes to improve your diet can have a lasting impact. There is a lot of misinformation about what foods are or aren’t heart-healthy, so it may surprise you to learn that you don’t need exotic fruits, imported nuts, or even pricey supplements to take care of your ticker. By making heart smart choices at home, at the grocery and at your favorite restaurant, you can reduce your risk of heart disease. Dietary DOs and DON’Ts for a Healthy Heart DO focus on fruits and vegetables. Most American’s don’t come close to eating the recommended minimum of five servings per day, but vegetables and fruits of all kinds and colors should take center stage in a heart-healthy diet. They’re rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that promote a healthy heart and body, plus they’re filling and low in calories, which can promote weight management. Fresh, frozen, dried, canned (without sugar/ syrups or added salt), raw, cooked - all fruits and vegetables are good for you. DON’T overdo it on juice and processed “fruit” snacks. The fruit filling in a breakfast pastry is mostly sugar - not a real serving of fruit. And while small amounts of 100 percent fruit juice can fit into a healthy diet, they’re also concentrated sources of sugar (naturally occurring) and calories compared to whole fruits, which also boast heart-healthy fiber while juice does not. Find out how juice can fit into a healthy diet. DO monitor your sodium intake. Sodium gets a bad rap - and deservedly so. Our bodies do need this mineral, but in much smaller quantities than we normally eat. To prevent high blood pressure and heart disease, a healthy sodium goal to strive for is no more than 1,500 milligrams per day. Keep in mind that sodium doesn’t just come from the salt shaker; processed foods, frozen entrees, canned vegetables, common condiments (like ketchup), deli meats (such as salami) and cheeses (including cottage cheese) can be high in sodium, as can many restaurant dishes. Learn how sodium sneaks into your diet and ways to reduce your intake. DON’T forget about added sugar. Most people know that sugar isn’t exactly a health food. It provides quick-digesting carbohydrates, but no real nutrition (think: vitamins and minerals). While many people associate sugar with the development of diabetes, few people realize that sugar plays just as much of a role in heart disease as dietary fat does. One study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that individuals who ate more sugar had lower levels of HDL “good” cholesterol and higher triglycerides - markers of increased heart disease risk. The American Heart Association recommends that women consume no more than six teaspoons of added sugars (about 100 calories) each day; that number becomes nine teaspoons for men (150 calories). Just one 12-ounce can of cola has about 130 calories, or eight teaspoons of sugar. Learn more about where sugar lurks in your diet. DO cut back on fat. To reduce your risk of heart disease, you need to choose the right types of fat, and make sure that you’re not eating too much fat in general. Most adults eat too much fat, regardless of the source, so cutting back on dietary fat is a good first step to a heart healthy diet. That’s why choosing low-fat products, baking or broiling instead of frying, and reducing or omitting the fats that recipes call for (think: oil, shortening, lard) are important first steps to get your fat intake in line. Avoid fats that elevate your cholesterol levels: trans fats (hydrogenated oils found in baked goods and many margarines) and saturated fats (usually found in high-fat meats and dairy products, including beef, lamb, pork, poultry, beef fat, cream, lard, butter, cheese and dairy products made with whole or 2 percent milk, as well as baked goods and fried foods that contain palm oil, palm kernel oil and coconut oil). About 25-35 percent of your total calories for the day should come from fat sources. For someone eating 1,500 calories per day, that’s about 41-58 grams of fat. SparkPeople’s meal plans and nutrition ranges meet this guideline, so if you track your food and are within your daily fat goal, you are meeting this recommendation. DON’T fear all fats. Not all fats are bad for you. In fact, certain types of fat, such as monounsaturated fat and Omega-3s, actually promote heart health. Once you’ve gotten your fat intake in line, focus on making heart-smart fat choices to meet your daily recommendations. Fats found in nuts, olive, soybean and canola oils, fish and seafood. DO imbibe in moderation (if you drink). Research indicates that a moderate alcohol intake has been associated with a decreased risk for certain cardiovascular diseases, particularly coronary heart disease. A moderate alcohol intake is defined as up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men. To find out if a moderate alcohol intake is appropriate for you, talk to your doctor about your consumption of alcohol, medical history, and any medications you use. Learn more about alcohol and your heart. DON’T start drinking alcohol if you aren’t already a drinker. There are other, healthier ways to reduce your risk of heart disease rather than drinking alcohol, which also comes with its own set of risks and can lead to problems. If you don’t drink now, don’t start. Other healthy habits (like not smoking, eating right, getting regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight) can also help you reduce your risk of heart disease. DO fill up on fiber. A high fiber diet can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Certain types of fiber may help lower LDL “bad” cholesterol. Adults should aim for 20-30 grams each day. To meet your daily quota, select a variety of unprocessed plant-based foods each day, including whole grains, (oats, whole-wheat bread/flour/cereal fruits and vegetables and beans. DON’T forget about cholesterol. Cholesterol is a waxy fatlike substance made in the liver and cells of animals. It is therefore found in animal products (meat, poultry, dairy and eggs), but not plant-sourced foods. A high intake of dietary cholesterol can contribute to heart disease. For the prevention of heart disease, limit your intake of dietary cholesterol to less than 300 milligrams each day. If you already have an elevated LDL cholesterol level or you are taking a cholesterol medication, this goal is even lower: 200 milligrams daily. While it may seem like there are a lot of “rules” to follow to protect your heart, it all boils down to making smart choices on a consistent basis. Focus on the foods that you know are good for you - whole grains, fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, lean protein choices, and healthy fats - and limit or avoid the types of foods that don’t do anything for your health (think empty calories, fried foods, sugar and sweets, and high-fat meats and dairy products). When you focus on the good stuff and make healthful choices most of the time, you’ll be doing your body - and your heart - well. Sources: American Heart Association. “Nutrition Center: Healthy Diet Goals,” accessed March 2011. www.heart.org. American Heart Association. “Saturated Fats,” accessed March 2011. www.heart.org. Text source: SparkPeople. com year. Thanks to the Smokefree Air Mississippi initiative, more Mississippians than ever realize that creating smokefree environments is the only way to fully protect people from exposure to secondhand smoke,” said Hart. “The adoption of these smokefree air ordinances by cities across Mississippi is an important step in improving our state’s overall health status. There is no downside to implementing comprehensive smokefree air policy. We hope this activity at the local level demonstrates the widespread public desire for a comprehensive statewide policy.” The Smokefree Air Mississippi initiative, led by MSDH, works to limit exposure to secondhand smoke in public places, including workplaces. The goal of the initiative is to improve the health of all Mississippians by educating and advocating for a smokefree environment in all public places. Show your support for Smokefree Air Mississippi by visiting our website - www. SmokefreeAirMS.com - and signing our petition, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter under Smokefree Air Mississippi. State Health officer announces certificate of need decision The Mississippi Link Newswire The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) announced the issuance of a Certificate of Need (CON) for the following project: Magee Benevolent Association dba Magee General Hospital Magee, Simpson County, Miss. - Purchase of interest in ownership of medical office building. Magee Benevolent Association dba Magee General Hospital has received Certificate of Need authority to purchase 51 percent ownership interest in The Medical Towers at Tuscan Court, LLC, located at 300 Third Avenue Southeast, Magee, MS 39111. There is a capital expenditure of $7,054,525 associated with this project. Mississippi’s Certificate of Need process is a fundamental component of the state’s health planning and health regulatory activities. In managing the Certificate of Need process, the Department seeks to improve the health of Mississippi residents; to increase accessibility, acceptability, continuity and quality of health services; to prevent unnecessary duplication of health resources; and to provide some cost containment. The MSDH has administered the Certificate of Need program since July 1986. Since then, more than 1,400 Certificate of Need applications have been reviewed, representing total capital expenditures of approximately $5 billion. The next Certificate of Need monthly meeting will be July 26, at the MSDH offices in Jackson. The department’s staff analysis for each Certificate of Need application is published online at www. HealthyMS.com. Forrest General Hospital receives Echocardiography accredition by the IAC The Mississippi Link Newswire HATTIESBURG - Cardiovascular diseases are the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. To fight these diseases, Forrest General is constantly improving. The Echo Lab of Forrest General has just been granted accreditation in Echocardiography in the areas of Adult Transthoracic and Adult Transesophageal by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC). Accreditation by the IAC means that Forrest General Hospital has undergone a thorough review of its operational and technical components by a panel of experts. The IAC grants accreditation only to those facilities that are found to be providing quality patient care, in compliance with national standards through a comprehensive application process including detailed case study review. IAC accreditation is a “seal of approval” that patients can rely on as an indication that the facility has been carefully critiqued on all as- pects of its operations considered relevant by medical experts in the field of Echocardiography. When scheduled for an Echocardiography procedure, patients are encouraged to inquire as to the accreditation status of the facility where their examination will be performed and can learn more by visiting www.intersocietal. org/echo/main/patients.htm. IAC accreditation is widely respected within the medical community, as illustrated by the support of the national medical societies related to Echocardiography, which include physicians and sonographers. Echocardiography accreditation is required in some states and regions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and by some private insurers. Echocardiography accreditation is required in some states and regions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and by a number of private insurers. However, patients should remain vigilant in making sure that their Echocardiography procedures are performed within accredited facilities, because for many facilities accreditation remains a voluntary process. Early detection of life threatening heart disorders and other diseases is possible through the use of Echocardiography procedures performed within hospitals, outpatient centers and physicians’ offices. While these tests are helpful, there are many facets that contribute to an accurate diagnosis based on echocardiography testing. The skill of the Echocardiography sonographer performing the examination, the type of equipment used, the background and knowledge of the interpreting physician and quality assurance measures are each critical to quality patient testing. For more information on Forrest General’s Heart and Vascular Services, call FGH OnCall at 1-800844-4445 or visit forrestgeneral. com. www.mississippilink.com July 12 - 18, 2012 Baptists Convention engages all eurweb.com The General Missionary Baptist State Convention of Mississippi, Inc. will convene in Jackson Monday, July 16, and close Friday, July 20. Classes will take place throughout the week for all age groups, as well as various evening events, which will include the annual Young People’s Department pageant and a concert, featuring gospel recording artist, KeKe Sheard. The theme for this year’s Congress is “Solidarity with the Savior through His Worship.” The courses will center on building the believer’s depth of knowledge concerning Christian doctrine and Baptist distinctives. The goal of this year’s Congress will be equipping Christian believers with the core of Christian faith and the foun- dations of Baptist doctrine. Dr. Isiac Jackson Jr. is the president of the General Missionary Baptist State Convention of Mississippi, Inc. Rev. Jackson was elected as the 15th president of the General Missionary Baptist State Convention of Mississippi, Inc. in the July 2010 session. Jackson is the pastor of Liberty Missionary Baptist Sutton Church in Canton. Rev. Arthur Sutton, pastor of Progressive M. B. Church in Jackson, is the director of the Young People’s Department. The origin of the GMBSC began when the General Baptist Association and the N e w s f r o m Jackson General Convention merged. The GMBSC was organized in 1890, under the leadership of an ex-slave preacher, Rev. Randle Pollard. The convention originally consisted of 400 churches that represented over 70,000 t h e black Baptists. Now the organization represents hundreds of thousands of black Baptists throughout the state of Mississippi. To learn more about upcoming events visit: http:// www.gmbsc.org W o r d God’s’ Manual for Happiness – Part 3 By Rev. Leon Collier Special to The Mississippi Link We l c o m e my sisters and brothers to this final installment of God’s Manual for Happiness. I pray that you were able to view Parts 1 and 2, both ran in The Mississippi Link consecutively in the past two weeks. As I end this message, I’d like to again reference the same question that I introduced to you earlier regarding - a British newspaper that once asked the following question: “Who are the happiest people on earth?” “He who despises his neighbor is a sinner, but happy is he who is kind to the poor.” - (Proverbs 14:21 RSV). If you were to survey the scripture you would find that it is no secret that God has a special place in His heart for the less fortunate and takes their neglect personally. “He who presses the poor curses his Maker, but he who honors Him has mercy upon the poor.” (Proverbs 14:31 MKJV) Having lived 50 years, I have come to realize the grave stupidity and spiritual blindness of those who hoard the riches of the world and blatantly neglect the less fortunate. The irrationality of stock-piled wealth is that while it collects dust, poverty engulfs human lives around the world. It is just plain stupid to have fading junk (money) you can’t take with you when you die and not help the poor. I would even go so far and call greed satanic. The evil one uses greed to keep the masses in poverty and despair. After all, he is all about suffering. Thus some of the greedy rich stockpile wealth while waxing in their arrogance to make themselves feel important yet they do not realize they are mere pawns of the devil to achieve his purpose of suffering. Assisting the poor is one way to prove ones credibility as a Christian. “The religion which is holy and free from evil in the eyes of our God and Father is this: to take care of children who have no fathers and of widows who are in trouble…” (James 1:27 BBE) “… One of the genuine elements of religion is loving-kindness ex- emplified especially in helping the helpless, such as widows and orphans…” - (People’s New Testament Commentary) The Lord encouraged us to care for the poor and if we do He promised blessings in return. “He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, and He will pay back what he has given.” - (Proverbs 19:17 NKJV) “He who gives to the poor will not lack, but he who hides his eyes will have many curses.” - (Proverbs 28:27 NKJV)” “Blessed is he who considers the poor; the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.” (NKJV)” - (Psalm 41:1) The Hebrew word for blessed in this verse is esher which means happy or how happy. The words how happy indicates a great amount of happiness. If one helps the poor in their misery God will ensure that one’s life will not be miserable and unfulfilled. Step 5 Learn to live by faith “…whoever puts his faith in the Lord is happy.” - (Proverbs 16:20b BBE)” If one says he has faith in God but is miserable he is not being honest. Notice it said if your faith is in God you are happy not going to be happy. Have you ever wondered why Jesus went to sleep in the boat and continued to sleep during the storm and did not wake up until His disciples disturbed His rest? Jesus was showing His disciples that one who trusts in God can rest happily, calmly and content in a storm. Jesus was not awakened by the thunder, the wind and the rain; He was awakened by His fearful, faithless disciples. Jesus knew that although He was asleep God, His heavenly Father, never sleeps and was watching over Him. Keep in mind that since the boat didn’t overturn while Jesus slept meant that God was keeping them all along. When you put your faith in God He will give you happiness and peace that passes all understanding. King Solomon said it best: “When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet. Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes: for Yahweh will be your con- fidence…”- (Proverbs 3:26a WEB) Faith gives us the assurance that since God is with us all storms are potentially beneficial. I heard it said that Jesus had already told the disciples let us go to the other side. This meant that Jesus had given them His word so, they were going to get to the other side no matter how torrent the storm. Another interesting thought is that at that point, Jesus had not yet gone to the cross to pay for our sins. Therefore, God was not about to permit a storm to hinder His purpose which reiterates the fact that the disciples were destined to make it out of that storm. Considering this, they had no reason to fret and lose sleep. The Apostle Paul offers a great prescription for worry. “Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6) Paul suggests two simple things we can do to avoid anxiety. #1. Pray to God continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and #2. Praise God continually (1 Thessalonians 5:18). When you do these two things it becomes mandatory for God to flood your heart with peace (Philippians 4:7). The general assumption is that when one prays it is because they have faith and thus relies on God to meet their needs. This in and of itself gives birth to happiness in one’s life. Happiness for believers is like a new credit card, before you can use it you must call in to have it activated. Many of God’s people are walking around with the potential of happiness for their lives, but they have not activated it yet. The five biblical principles listed above will set in motion happiness in our lives. I would like to close with an interesting quote about happiness. Some years ago I spoke with an inmate and he said something to me that I will remember for the rest of my life. He told me that he had seen a magnet on a refrigerator that read: “Happiness is not getting what you want, but wanting what you already have.” We already have access to God through Christ and if we take advantage of this (what we already have) the joy of the Lord will flood our souls. God is waiting on us and if we get into His presence we will experience the fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). Thank you for joining me for this study of the Lord’s Word. About the Pastor Rev. Leon Collier is the pastor of Makarios Worship Center, 464 Church Rd., Madison. Residents of Madison, he and wife Minister Yolanda are the proud parents of three daughters: Noel, Leona and Leondria. Rev. Collier has received degrees from Criswell College in Dallas; Southern Methodist University Perkins School of Theology; and a Masters of Divinity from Memphis Theological Seminary; as well as participated in the Theological Opportunities Program at Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass. A pastor for 23 years, Collier serves as a volunteer chaplain for various law enforcement agencies in the metro area and for the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion. He is currently employed as a part-time chaplain for Tyson Foods in Vicksburg, Miss. He can be reached by calling 601.260.3016 or by calling the church at 601.855.7898 or email him at [email protected]. THE mississippi link • 11 Message from the Religion Editor By Daphne Higgins Religion Editor Can you believe it? The time for summer vacations is coming to a close. Wow, June is gone and July is coming to an end. For those of us who are the parents or guardians of school-aged children, if a summer vacation has not already been taken, time is running out. I know, I ask you a series of questions every year about your summer plans, and this year is no exception. However I will admit, these questions are really for those who have positions that allow them more flexibility during the summer months. Questions such as: Where did the summer go? Did you have time to do all of the things that you had planned? Did you visit relatives, go to your special vacation place, relax and read that book? I know, not everyone has the summer off and not everyone wants it off but there is something that everyone should want to do: visit a House of Worship. Whether you choose to travel for a week, a weekend, a day, or not at all - make sure that worship is a consistent item on your summer’s list of things to do. The Bible tells us that our Lord always found a place to worship on the Sabbath as noted in Luke 4:16 - “And He came to Nazareth where He had been brought up; and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day…” As the end of summer travel nears, a commitment to worship when away from home should be at the beginning of your list. Even if you decide that you want to stay very close to home for your summer enjoyment, you should still, thank God and give Him praise. Remember, it is because of His goodness that all things are possible and His goodness allows you to do so many wonderful things. Because of God’s goodness, please stop to celebrate His Holy name. Remember whatever you do, nothing is possible without Him. Because of God’s goodness, countless blessings are bestowed upon each and every one of us. Because of God’s goodness, we serve as vessels moving through life, taking us where God leads us to share His message of love and salvation. The Mississippi Link, a messenger for news in and around the state of Mississippi, would like to serve as your personal messenger to share your good news and the news of your place of worship and visit. As always, we ask that you let us help you to communicate the good news of our Lord. Isaiah 52:7a reads, “What a beautiful sight it is to see messengers coming with good news!” So, before, during and after your travels away or within your community, share the news of your places of worship with others and take a moment to find out more about what God is doing for others. The King James Version of Isaiah 52:7b reads, “Your God reigns.” His presence is everywhere and so should the news of His love for all of His children. Contact Daphne M. Higgins at religion@mississippilink. com. You may fax 601-8960091 or mail your information to The Mississippi Link at 2659 Livingston Road, Jackson, MS 39213. R ei g n i n g A n n ou n ceme n ts New Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 233 Cottonwood Drive, Jackson, will host its Annual Women’s Day Celebration on Sunday, July 15, at 2:30 p.m. The speaker for the day will be Evangelist Lena Tyler of New Life Fellowship Baptist Church, Jackson. The program theme is “Women of Integrity, Talk to Me”. The themed scripture is “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” - Matthew 5:16. All women are asked to wear white. For more information call 601.362.7397 or 601.829.1986. S U B S C R I B E T O D AY ! The Mississippi Link For more information please call: 601-896-0084 or e-mail [email protected] The new superintendent of Jackson Public Schools, Dr. Cedrick Gray, along with his family and JPS school board officials recently attended worship service at College Hill M. B. Church., 1400 Florence Ave., Jackson. Pictured from left to right: Gray’s wife and daughter, Rev. Michael Williams, pastor of College Hill; Linda Rush, school board vice president; Monica Love-Gilmore, school board president; and members of the Gilmore-Love family. Photo by Dr. Timothy W. Rush 12 • THE mississippi link July 12 - 18, 2012 Word of the Day: Ignite By Myesha Chaney There are so many gifts, talents and abilities deeply embedded inside of us. Some are innate qualities that are undeniable, while others are characteristics gleaned during the childhood. No matter the origin, we find ourselves running the race of life without our gifts being activated. We all have an internal fire, drive, or motivation that enables us to be passionate about life and our contribution to society. Life circumstances can cause that inner passion and fire to die. There are times we are extremely enthused about a new relationship, a promotion, or a budding creative hobby. As time progresses and disappointments prevail, they hamper the flame. For some of us, we have made the best out of flameless lives. We aimlessly get through life doing just that - getting through. The mo- ment your passion dries up, your motivation to endure is weakened. Why be tortured by life? Why go through the motions for your existence on earth? Muster up enough courage to keep the flame going. Love deeply and live passionately because it has a positive effect or your emotional wellbeing. It enables you to gain experiences that will nourish your soul for years to come. We have this amazing power to provoke change in our own lives. The responsibility to encourage belongs to each of us. It may sound strange but we are accountable to ourselves for the purpose and direction of life being fulfilled. The most infectious and inspirational person to be around is the one who lives passionately for something, someone, or a greater cause. I am not the best person to cook barbeque. I really don’t know much about the process or why one person’s barbeque is better than another. I just love to eat it. From the little information I do know, I can say that in order to prepare the food, the fire must be present. It must reach a temperature adequate for food preparation. If the fire is too low, it is impossible to cook the food in a timely manner. In the same way, there are people waiting to feast on the passion inside of you. As long as the fire is quenched, no one gets the opportunity to enjoy the food. As long as your dreams and passions are dormant, they are not effective in changing or enhancing the lives of those around you. It is time to ignite. We need to muster up the courage to believe when everything inside us says walk away. Standing in the face of rejection and disappointment creates a depth in us that cannot be taken away. We must begin to ask the tough questions. What am I living for? Why has my fire gone out? What is my purpose on this earth? Ask the Creator what His intended purpose was when He fashioned you in your mother’s womb. Whatever it is, no matter how big or small, arouse the gifts within you. You can do it. You must do it. There is a line of people waiting to eat. Ignite. Myesha Chaney is a recording artist signed to Kingdomanity/Relevé Entertainment. Her debut CD, Take Him to The World, will be in stores and online outlets on July 3, 2012. She is a wife, mother and the first lady of Antioch Church of Long Beach, Calif. where her husband, Wayne Chaney, is senior pastor. She and her husband cohost a weekly radio show, “Real Life with Pastor Wayne and Myesha Chaney,” on Los Angeles’ KJLH. Please visit her at www.myeshachaney. com. You can email her at [email protected]. Michelle Obama challenges the AME Church The Mississippi Link Newswire First lady Michelle Obama told those gathered at the annual conference of the African Methodist Episcopal church in Nashville, Tenn., last week, that what Christians do in the quieter moments of their lives is more important than just showing up for Sunday services once a week, reports the Christian Post. “Our faith journey isn’t just about showing up on Sunday for a good sermon and good music and a good meal,” the first lady said to some 10,000 people. “It’s about what we do Monday through Saturday as well, especially in those quiet moments, when the spotlight is not on us, and we’re making those daily choices about how to live our lives.” “We see that in the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus didn’t limit his ministry to the four walls of the church,” she said. “He was out there fighting injustice and speaking truth to power every single day. He was out there spreading Obama a message of grace and redemption to the least, the last, and the lost. And our charge is to find Him everywhere, every day by how we live our lives.” College Hill Missionary Baptist Church B I B L E B A S E D • C H R I S T C E N T E R E D • H O LY S P I R I T L E D Since 1907 The Top 10 Gospel Songs from the Billboard Gospel Charts for the week of July 12 SUNDAY: SONGS Worship Services 8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. MONDAY: Intercessory Prayer 9:00 a.m. 1600 Florence Avenue Jackson, MS 39204 Ph: 601-355-2670 ARTISTS ALBUM WEDNESDAY: Prayer Service 6:30 p.m. Fax: 601-355-0760 Classes: Children • Youth • Adult - 7:00 p.m. 1. Awesome 2. My Testimony Pastor Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago www.collegehillchurch.org • [email protected] Marvin Sapp Peace Together 3. Shifting The Atmosphere Jason Nelson 4. Let The Church Say Amen Andrae Crouch featuring Marvin Winans 5. Go Get It Mary Mary 6. Take Me To The King Tamela Mann featuring Kirk Franklin 7. After This Youthful Praise Featuring JJ Hairston 8. I Feel Good Fred Hammond 9. I Won’t Go Back William McDowell 10. Great And Mighty Byron Cage Shifting The Atmosphere Go Get It God, Love and Romance www.mississippilink.com P reser v ed Grace and prayers go hand-in-hand By Shewanda Riley Columnist In one of my favorite plays, “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare, there is a pivotal scene in Act 3, where King Claudius appears to be praying to heaven for forgiveness of killing his brother and then marrying his brother’s widow. As he attempts to pray, he said, “My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. Words without thoughts never to heaven go.” Eventhough he is a fictional character, he appears to understand something that we Christians seem to have forgotten: in order for our prayers to be heard and answered, they must be prayed sincerely. This principle is also shown in James 4:3 which teaches, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” In the Old Testament, Hannah shows that although she is struggling with the painful burden of her years of disappointment, she still believed as she prayed that God would allow her to be a mother. After years of prayer and being cruelly taunted by her husband’s other wife, she still finds herself childless. I Samuel 1 shows Hannah crying out to go in anguish, “…O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life….” Her prayers are ultimately answered. Though the chapter doesn’t mention grace specifically, it appears as though she is relying on God’s grace to strengthen her as she felt herself getting weak while waiting for her prayer to be answered. Because of disappointments, we may be frustrated (even though we are afraid to admit it) because God hasn’t given us what we wanted and when we wanted it. In the end, we become frustrated by those unmet desires. When we need to rely on grace the most, we seem to be grace-less because we’ve allowed ourselves to become enslaved by disappointment. Our prayers don’t seem to be making an impact primarily because they are prayed with the right words..but with the wrong attitude. We want to have hope but have to admit that we no longer have hope that things will change. We may also make the mistake of believing that somehow we’ve not done enough which is why God has not answered our prayer. Our relationship with God is not based on what we do. Only God knows when our prayers will be answered. God doesn’t answer prayers because of what people do or do not do…he answers them simply because of his grace. Mark your calendars to attend the Sixth Annual Do the Write Thing workshop Aug. 17 and 18 in Hurst, Texas. Visit www.thewritethingworkshop.com for more details. Shewanda Riley is the author of the Essence bestseller “Love Hangover: Moving From Pain to Purpose after a Relationship Ends.” She can be reached at [email protected] or by visiting www.shewandariley.com. Shekinah S U B S C RGlory I B E TO DAY ! The Church Mississippi Link Baptist For more information please call: 601-896-0084 “Shining the [email protected] Radiant or e-mail Light of His Glory” W E E K LY A C T I V I T I E S NewSunday Bethel Missionary Baptist Church 9:30 a.m. Fulfillment Hour (Sunday School) Pastor, Dr. F. R. Lenoir 11:00 a.m. Morning Worship Service Sunday School - 9:15 a.m. To listen to snippets of these songs, please visit billboard.com/charts/gospel-song Sunday Morning Worship - 10:30 a.m. Tuesday 6:30 p.m. Prayer Time BibleBroadcast Study Live&Radio Thursday6:30 p.m. Adult Choir Rehearsal WOAD AM 1300 - 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Saturday 11:00 a.m. Youth & Young Adult Choir Rehearsal Moving the Masses Toward the Mission of the Master Bishop Ronnie C. Crudup, Sr. 1770 Ellis Avenue • Jackson, MS 39204 OFFICE. 601-371-1427 • FAX. 601-371-8282 www.newhorizonchurchms.org S U N D A Y Please join us in any or all of these activities. You are WELCOME! “A Church Preparing for a 485 W. Northside Drive • Jackson, MS Home Not Built by Man” 601-981-4979 • Bro. Karl E Twyner, pastor New Bethel M. B. Church • 450 Culberston Ave. • Jackson, MS 39209 601-969-3481/969-3482 • Fax # 601-969-1957 • E-Mail: [email protected] 9:00 a.m. - Worship Services W E D N E S D A Y 7:00 p.m. - Bible Class Sunday Worship Services 8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Monday T V B R O A D C A S T 8:00 a.m. - Channel 14 (Comcast) Prayer Everyday: 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. H oly Temple M.B. Chur ch 5077 Cabaniss Circle - Jackson, MS 39209 (601) 922-6588; [email protected] Sunday School - 8 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship - 9:30 a.m. Tuesday Bible Study - 6:30 p.m. Intercessory Prayer 9:00 a.m. Wednesday Prayer Service 6:30 p.m. Classes: Children • Youth • Adult - 7:00p.m.Michael T. Williams Pastor “The Church That’s on the Move for Christ for Such a Time as This” ________________________ REV. AUDREY L. HALL, PASTOR REV. DR. AVA S. HARVEY, SR., OVERSEER CLASSIFIED www.mississippilink.com July 12 - 18, 2012 Legal THE mississippi link • 13 ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION BUREAU OF BUILDING, GROUNDS AND REAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI NOTICE OF APPEAL FOR A REZONING ZONING CASE NO. 3807 ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Sealed bids will be received at the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management, 501 North West Street, Suite 1401 B, Jackson, Mississippi, 39201, until 2:00:00 p.m. on Thursday, 08/02/2012 , for: RE: GS# 312-108 UNIT 1 RENOVATION Security Cameras Oakley Campus (Division of Youth Services) (Department of Human Services) Parcel A (Description of 0.73 Acres) at which time they will be publicly opened and read. Contract documents may be obtained from: 7/5/12, 7/12/12, 7/19/12 ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS NOTICE OF APPEAL FOR A SPECIAL EXCEPTION ZONING CASE NO. 3803 By virtue of and pursuant to the authority and direction of that Ordinance by the City Council of Jackson, Mississippi, appearing in Minute Book 3G at page 115 thereof, notice is hereby given to all persons interested in or in anywise affected thereby, that DR. ELIJAH ARRINGTON III has filed with the City Planning Board of the City of Jackson, an application requesting a Special Exception to allow a cosmetic and sedation dental facility, property located at 1309 E. Northside Dr.., First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, and being more particularly described as: Lot 5, Kimwood Subdivision, Part I, a subdivision according to the map or plat thereof which is on file and of record in the Office of the Chancery Clerk of Hinds County at Jackson, Mississippi in Plat book 15 at Page 1 thereof, reference to which map or plat is hereby made in aid of and as a part of this description. Said application was heard by the City Planning “Board on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 with a recommendation to deny. The applicant has filed an Appeal of the recommendation of the Planning Board. The Case will be heard at the City Councils Zoning Meeting in the Council Chambers, First Floor, City Hall, 219 S. President Street in Jackson, Mississippi, at 2:30 p.m., on Monday, July 16,2012, WITNESS my signature this 25th day of July 2012. /s/Ester L. Ainsworth Zoning Administrator City of Jackson, Mississippi 6/28/12, 7/12/12 Professional: Address: Phone: Robert Lewis/Architects Post Office Box 1154 Clinton, Mississippi 39060-1154 601-925-8180 A deposit of $100.00 is required. Bid preparation will be in accordance with Instructions to Bidders bound in the project manual. The Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management reserves the right to waive irregularities and to reject any or all bids. NOTE: Telephones and desks will not be available for bidders use at the bid site. Glenn R. Kornbrek, Bureau Director Director By virtue of and pursuant to the authority and direction of that Ordinance by the City Council of Jackson, Mississippi, appearing in Minute Book 3G at page 115 thereof, notice is hereby given to all persons interested in or in anywise affected thereby, that MAMADOLJ S. SALL has filed with the City Planning Board of the City of Jackson, an application requesting a Rezoning from R-1A (Single-Family) Residential District to C-2 (Limited) Commercial District, property located at 310/312 Briarwood Dr., First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, and being more particularly described as: 7/5/12, 7/12/12 Legal A parcel of land lying and situated in Lot 26 of Block B ofFemwood Subdivision, according to a map or plat thereof on file and of record in the office of the Chancery Clerk of Hinds County at Jackson, Mississippi and the Northwest Quarter of Section 12, Township 6 North, Range 1 East, City of Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi and being more particularly described as follows: Commence at an iron pin representing the southwest comer of Oak Park Planned Office Development according to the map or plat which is of record and on file in the office of the Chancery Clerk of Hinds County, located in Jackson, Mississippi and run thence S 90 degrees 00 minutes 00 seconds W along the north right of way of Briarwood Drive per deed book 3108 at page 350 for a distance 399.15 feet for an iron pin on the east line of Lot 26 of Block B of Femwood, and the POINT OF BEGINNING of the parcel herein described ; Run thence S 90 degrees 00 minutes 00 seconds W along the north right of way of Briarwood Drive for a distance 99.79 feet to an iron pin on the west line of sad Lot 26 of Block B ofFemwood Subdivision; Run thence S 88 degrees 44 minutes 00 seconds East for a distance of 99.82 feet to an iron pin on the ease line of said Lot 26 of Block B ofFemwood Subdivision; Run thence S 0 degrees 01 minutes 56 seconds E along the east line of said Lot 26 of Block B ofFemwood Subdivision for a distance of 316.13 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING, and contains 0.73 acres, more or less Parcel B (Description of 0.28 Acres) NOTICE OF INVITATION TO BID ON CITY-OWNED PROPERTY CITY OF JACKSON Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received by the City Clerk of the City of Jackson, Mississippi before 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 17, 2012, for the purchase of certain City-owned property, (zoned I-1), parcel #401-28, located at 2429 Livingston Road in Jackson, Mississippi. Bids for this property will start at $12,000. The City will retain all mineral rights it owns, together with the right of ingress and egress to remove same from said property. For additional information or for a “bid form”, contact Valerie Skinner at (601) 960-2266 or vskinner@city. jackson.ms.us BID INSTRUCTIONS: All bids must be placed in a sealed envelope and delivered to the City Clerk of the City of Jackson (located in City Hall at 219 S. President St.) The outside of the envelope must be plainly marked: “Livingston Road Property” with the bidder’s name. Enclose one (1) original and one (1) copy of the bid. Bids will be opened on Tuesday, July 17, 2012, at 3:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 219 South President Street, Jackson, Mississippi. The City reserves the right to reject any and all bids. CITY OF JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 6/28/12, 7/5/12, 7/12/12 A parcel of land lying and situated in Lot 26 of Block B ofFemwood Subdivision, according to a map or plat thereof on file and of record in the office of the Chancery Clerk of Hinds County at Jgckson, Mississippi and the Northwest Quarter of Section 12, Township 6 North, Range 1 East, City of Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, and being more particularly described as follows” Commence at an iron pin representing the southwest comer of Oak Park Planned Office Development according to the map or plat which is of record and on file in the office of the Chancery Clerk of Hinds County, located in Jackson, Mississippi and run thence S 90 degrees 00 minutes 00 seconds W along the north right of way of Briarwood Drive per deed book 3108 at page 350 for a distance 399.15 feet to an iron pin on the east line of Lot 26 of Block B of Fern wood Subdivision; continue thence S 90 degrees 00 minutes 00 seconds W along the north right of way of Briarwood Drive for a distance 99.79 feet to an iron pin on the west line of said Lot 26 ‘of Block 318.34 feet to an iron pin said iron pin being the POINT OF BEGINNING of the parcel herein an iron pin; run thence S 88 degrees 44 minutes 00 seconds East for a distance of 99.82 feet to an iron pin on the east line of said Lot 26 of Block B ofFemwood Subdivision for a distance of 125-OOfeet to an iron pin; run thence N 88 degrees 44 minutes 00 seconds W for a distance of 99.82 feet to an iron pin on the east line of said Lot 26; and the POINT OF BEGINNING, and Niagara Falls contains 0.28, more or less. October 22-29 Oct ‘12-June ‘13 STARKVILLE TOURS Said application was heard by the City Planning Board on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 with a recommendation to deny. The applicant has filed an Appeal of the recommendation of the Planning Board. The Case will be heard at the City Council=s Zoning Meeting in the Council Chambers, First Floor, City Hall, 219 S. President Street in Jackson, Mississippi, at 2:30 p.m., on Branson Tour November 12-15 Williamsburg December 18-22 Key West Tour January 21-26 Cajun Tour February 25-28 S’west Grand Canyon April 23-May 2 Monday, July 16,2012. Northwest Yellowstone WITNESS my signature this 25th day of July 2012. Washington, DC Tour /s/Ester L. Ainsworth Zoning Administrator City of Jackson, Mississippi 6/28/12, 7/12/12 Warning! 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Burrows Paper Corporation, a leading global manufacturer of specialty light weight papers, is expanding its workforce! A recent multi-million dollar investment at the Pickens Paper Mill has increased annual production capabilities by 6,500 tons/yr. Our finely engineered specialty light weight papers are better for the environment, our customers and their bottom line. Burrows has been Making Paper Perform® since 1919 and is once again poised for growth and remains dedicated to improving the economic vitality and quality of life for the region. Join our team and be part of our next century in business. Sales Manager - Southwestern U.S., Mexico and Central America • Responsibleforallpapersales-relatedactivitiesinregionwithprimaryemphasisonnewcustomerand market development • Workcloselywithcustomerservicetomaintainandverifycurrentcustomerorders • CollaboratewiththeTechnicalDepartmentonnewproductprospectinganddevelopment • Collectandcommunicatecompetitivemarketinformation • FluencyinbothspokenandwrittenEnglishandSpanishrequired • Virtualoffice/telecommutingwiththeavailabilitytotravelupto50% • Minimumtenyearsoutsidesalesterritoryexperiencerequired • Four-yearcollegedegreeorrelevantpapermanufacturingexperiencerequired EOE M/F/D/V Technical Assistant Plant Manager • • • • Meetorexceedproduction,cost,andmachineefficiencygoals Maintainappropriatepaperproductpropertiesandpapermakingvariables AssistthePlantManagerasrequired Experienceinfibersources,machinesettingsandchemicalinteractionsrequired Maintenance Manager • Supervision,planning,coordinationandexecutionofallfacilitymaintenanceactivitiestooptimize equipment uptime, safety, and environmental performance • Regularlymanageboiler/steamsystemmaintenanceincludingboilerchemicals,troubleshootingand ensure compliance with safety, legislative and environmental requirements • Responsibleforelectricalpreventativemaintenanceprogramsincludinginfraredanalysis,xfmroil analysis, relay testing and general electrical equipment housekeeping in compliance with safety and code requirements in unison with the engineering department • EnsuretheMillhasup-to-dateelectricalschematicsonsiteinadditiontomaintainingtheaccessibilityto the electrical substation and appropriate maintenance of transformer overflows Millwright • • • • Performelectrical,mechanicalandinstrumentationprojecttasks Providestart-upservicesandtroubleshooting Maintainandcalibratepaperqualitytestingequipment;optimizemachineandcontrols Developprocesscomputer(QCS)toadvancepaperorpulpmachineoperationsandproduction,aswell as all related documentation • Solidelectricalbackground Electrical & Industrial Technician • • • • ExperiencewithPLCServomotors,AC/DCdriver,hydraulicsandboileroperationsrequired Readschematicsandblueprintsrelatedtominorrepairs Threeyearsofindustrialexperiencerequired AAdegreepreferred Material Handler • Inspectandcompletetrailerinspectionreports;maintainpackinglistsandBOL • Forktruckandclamptruckexperiencerequired SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 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Starting at $19.99/month PLUS 30 premium movie channels FREE for 3 months! SAVE! & ask about SAME DAY installation! Call 888471-1216. DONATE YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR BOAT TO HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. 866-549-3390. STUMP GRINDING and BOBCAT WORK *** DEBRIS REMOVAL Visit our website www.stumpsunlimited.com Craig Sterling 601-248-9399 Week of July 8, 2012 16 • the mississippi link July 12 - 18, 2012 www.mississippilink.com All-star Tuesday night instead of all-star Friday night lacked crowd, but had enthusiasm By Tim Ward Sports Writer For many years, the all-star slam dunk contest, three point shootout, and other all-star activities were held on the Friday before the usual Saturday game. This year however, it changed. Coaches give varying answers as to why the switch. The lack of crowd support will probably make them reconsider for next year. In an attempt to have a crowd in the gym, all-star Tuesday night (July 10) was held about 20 minutes after the all-star volleyball game. The volleyball game drew a decent crowd for a volleyball game, but was a far cry from the typical basketball game. Despite the sparce crowd, the allstars seized their all-star moments. The night opened with the three point shooting competition. Four participants from each squad entereded the competition. A surprise entry was that of Kierra Jordan, Lanier’s Dandy Dozen post player, who tried her hand at the three point shooting competition. She finished with seven points. Her coach Jonas James was in attendance. He cheered her on, but gave a sly grin when asked about Kierra shooting three pointers in the upcoming season. Justice Martin of H.W. Byers captured the three-point championship for the girls and Jalen Dawson of Gentry won for the boys. When the two battled head to head for the overall champion, Dawson captured the gold. Kristen Dixon of Choctaw Central won the girls’ free throw shooting contest. Justus Williams of Bay High won the boys’ free throw shooting contest. Williams won the overall free throw shooting contest after they squared off again in a runoff. The most anticipated event of the night was the slam dunk contest, now for boys and girls. This year for the girls’ first round of dunks, they lowered the goal to seven feet. The young ladies tried all kinds of dunks including jump- ing over each other. For the second round for the girls, they raised the goal to eight feet. In the final round of the girls’ dunk contest, LaShyra Cotton asked them to raise the basketball goal to nine feet. They agreed and she didn’t disappoint. Cotton attacked the goal at an angle and dunked the ball with two hands. Cotton of East Side was the winner for the girls’. The boys’ slam dunk wasn’t close. It was Rahkeem Lehaman of Amanda Elzy and everyone else. Lehaman showcased just how high he could jump throughout the rounds. In the first round, he jumped over Lanier’s Kierra Jordan and dunked. In the second round, he jumped over two of his all-star teammates and one of them was taller than him. That dunk brought the house down! Everyone in the building jumped up, screamed, high-fived, and some could only put their hand over their mouth. Rahkeem Lehaman easily won the slam dunk contest. He also won the overall slam dunk contest versus Cotton. Featuring The Missississippi Mass Choir, Genita Pugh, Bishop Neal Roberson, Harvey Watkins, Stan Jones, The Christian Angels, Da Minista, Castro Coleman & Highly Favored, The Memphis Harmonizers, The Kaiser Singers and many more Call 601- 981- 4035 for more information or visit our Website at www.jmaainc.com Featuring: Lenny Williams, Lacee. Omar Cunningham, Jarekus Singleton, Calico Panache, Enyla, Lil Noo, Noo, the Lil Walker Boyz and Super Jay Honoring Freelon’s Da Groove, Soops, Hal & Mals, Couples, Dreamz Jxn and Hamps Place & Team Airplay Hosts Alice Marie & Rob J www.jmaainc.com For more information call 601-981-4035 www.mississippilink.com July 12 - 18, 2012 THE mississippi link • 17 Yvette Wilson’s memorial: a party, not a funeral Miss. relatives attend; mother reflects By Gail M. Brown Editor Friends, fans, celebrities and relatives were saddened in mid June by the loss of 1990’s “Moesha” sitcom co-star Yvette Wilson. She died of cervical cancer at 48. However, “sadness” was not what the actress/comedienne wanted surrounding her departure, her mother Thelma Randall McDonald told The Mississippi Link via telephone from her Las Vegas home. “Yvette had prepared us for this.” “She left specific instructions that she did not want a funeral; she did not want sadness; she wanted a party,” McDonald, a Mississippi native, said. “She said, ‘I don’t want people crying, I want them to celebrate.’” According to family, Wilson had planned everything in advance, including the party’s menu. And a party it was, The Mississippi Link has learned. During Independence Day weekend, June 30, at 4 p.m., the “memorial party” was held with roughly 300 people packed into the Regency West in the Crenshaw District of Los Angeles. “It was held at the place where she first started out in comedy,” cousin Rose Berry of Jackson told The Mississippi Link. She was one of seven Mississippi relatives attending the event. “It was so nice, so lively. A picture of Yvette was on each table,” she said. Wilson’s sister Rosalind Burns had also coordinated, with the help of a friend, a collage of pictures of Wilson to display at the celebration. Berry, who has been told she resembles her Hollywood cousin, said one lady came up to her, hugged her and said, “Forgive me for starring, but Yvette’s spirit is here in this room.” Berry’s mother, Wilson’s aunt Monzola Ross of Cruger, Miss., said she was so grateful God blessed them to drive safely to California. “My sister was so glad to see us. We met and took pictures with so many of the celebrities who knew Yvette.” Among the speakers, according to relatives, were Mark Curry of “Hanging with Mr. Cooper,” Dorien Wilson and Ken Lawson of “The Parkers,” “Moesha’s” star Brandy and her brother entertainer Ray J, Countess Vaughn of “The Parkers,” Shar Jackson of “Moesha” and others. The celebration was coordinated with the help of Wilson’s best friend since third-grade, Eileen of Texas and Wilson’s first manager/producer Marcus King. Eileen, according to McDonald, was the donor who gave Wilson a kidney. Cousin Clara Ware, also of Cruger, Miss. said, “It was filled with laughter. Everyone talked about how helpful Yvette was. I can attest to that, because she helped me when my father (her uncle) died. I wanted to get up and share that, but I knew I would cry.” Ware said a recurring comment made was that Wilson did not accept “no” for an answer. “They said if something could not be done one way, she would find another way,” Ware said. The youngest of three siblings, McDonald said her “baby” has always been an “independent child with a great sense of humor and a giving heart.” Even in grade-school she said Wilson would bring kids home with her and say things like, ‘Mama, can they stay with us?’ ‘They don’t have enough food,’ or ‘Her mama is mean to her.’ “She literally gave until it hurt,” McDonald said. Her mother said Wilson had been sick a long time with other health conditions as well, but the cancer is what impacted her most. “She did not want a lot of people to know that she was ill,” she said. “One time, she did not want her friend Jamie [Foxx] or anyone to know which hospital she was in, but he found her.” She said Wilson was concerned about how she looked, but she kept working and pushing forward. Also a woman of faith, Wilson attended an all-denominational church. “She attended until she could not. Then she would watch the services on television,” her mother explained. “She never complained about her illness; she remained hopeful. She still wanted to help people. Her friends had to beg her permission to set up that fund on her behalf. They told her, ‘you are always helping others; let people help you now.’ That was the only way she gave in to them. “She had just told me about three weeks before she died: ‘I’m going to the family reunion with you, mama.’” Wilson loved the family gatherings in Mississippi. In fact, the last time she visited was for her mother’s big birthday bash held in the state five years ago. The upcoming family reunion is scheduled for Labor Day weekend, Sept. 1, in Holmes County, Miss. Her mother, sister and other West Coast relatives are planning to attend. “I know my sister is in a better place,” said Wilson’s brother Henry Wilson, also of Las Vegas. By her own wishes, Wilson was cremated. She is survived by two adult daughters, two grandsons, her mother, sister and brother, and a clan of other relatives from coast to coast. Actress Countess Vaughn and Taurean Washington of Jackson Pam Wiley of Byram, Miss. with “the Professor” character from “The Parkers” A collage tribute to Wilson’s life compiled by her sister Rosalind Burns of Los Angeles and a family friend. Clara Ware of Cruger, Miss. shares photo opportunty with Johnny Randle of Los Angeles. An earlier photo of Yvette Wilson (second from right) with brother Henry, mother Thelma and sister Rosalind Rose Berry, left, enjoys party with cousin Johnny Randle and aunt Becky. Ashley Wiley of Byram, Miss. poses with entertainer Ray J Rose Berry (right) of Jackson with Dorien Wilson, actor ‘Reclaiming Our Health’ Book Signing/Reception June 28, 2012 • The Penguin Restaurant • Jackson, Miss. photos by Gail Brown United Healthcare Plan President Jocelyn Carter signs book poster. Author Michelle Gourdine , M.D. (right) chatting with attendees. Dr. Juanita Sims Doty signs the congratulatory poster. A spread of delicacies at the book signing reception. Barnes and Noble rep on hand to retail the book. Author Gourdine, center, with UH business manager and Jocelyn Carter. 18 • the mississippi link July 12 - 18, 2012 www.mississippilink.com Book Review: “ATedGolden Voice” Williams, with Bret Witter by c.2012, Gotham Books $26.00 / $27.50 Canada • 256 pages By Kam Williams Book Reviewer Some people can sing like angels. They can lift their voices in such a way that make you absolutely sure you’re hearing heaven. With words, they can make you cry or dance. Some people can run faster than sound. Others can wiggle their noses or ears. Some have a way with babies or dogs, know how to turn sugar into cupcakes, or can do magic with numbers. One way or another, everybody has a talent that other people recognize. But, as you’ll see in “A Golden Voice,” author Ted Williams (with Bret Witter) almost squandered his on the streets. By his own account, Ted Williams had a happy childhood filled with visits to Coney Island, subway rides and lots of toys. Though his Bedford-Stuyvesant neighbors were mostly poor, his parents weren’t: Julia and Al Williams, long-married and childless when they adopted Ted, were well-off and Ted, a people-loving “giver” was happy to share his good fortune with friends. Williams was indulged, and when he became obsessed with radio at age 12, his mother treated him to a tape recorder for Christmas. It was a life-changer. Williams remembers how he carried that tape recorder around, inventing commercials and pretending to be like his radio-announcer heroes. Coincidentally, puberty hit around this time and, to his delight, he received a gift of a golden voice. The voice took him to a tiny radio station in South Carolina. It took him to Columbus, Ohio, where he worked his way up to the top: Columbus’ number-one disc jockey, in demand from advertisers, concert-goers, and record-promoters. But Williams, ever the peoplepleasing performer, loved a good time. Getting alcohol was easy at concerts, as was cocaine. It was a tiny step from cocaine to crack. Within weeks, Williams lost his job. He often didn’t return home, so he lost his family. He lost three different families, in fact, as well as several homes, possessions, sometimes his freedom, and his dignity. Getting “rock” was all he wanted. He didn’t care about anything but smoke. But then, as he hit bottom once again, he began to remember something that he’d learned nearly twenty years before, a bit of a Psalm that became a lifeline: “Acknowledge Him….” “A Golden Voice” is a bit of a conundrum. Self-professed people-pleaser and author Ted Williams certainly pleased me with this memoir (with Bret Witter). There’s a little bit of braggadocio in this book, enough wry humor to bring a smile, and plenty of humility - all of which fits the person we get to know and matches the man we saw online in the video last year. I liked that riches-to-ragsto-spiritual-riches tale. What doesn’t fit are the chapters by Williams’ girlfriend, Kathy. While they’re a horrifying accompaniment to illustrate the depths to which Williams descended, her personal story is not his story. Still, those chapters don’t distract from a memoir that is both worshipful and worrisome at the same time, so if you’re looking for a book to enjoy, this is the one. For you, “A Golden Voice” will uplift yours. Byram, Ms. 601-373-9875 5777 Terry Road (at Corner of Terry and Siwell Rd.) Open 6 AM to 10 PM, Sunday through Saturday Jackson, Ms. 601-373-9595 2101 Raymond Road Open 6 AM to 9 PM, Sunday through Saturday Mississippi Owned and Operated QUANITY RIGHTS RESERVED. NO SALES TO DEALERS. SOME ITEMS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE AT ALL STORES. NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL OR PICTORIAL ERRORS. PRICES GOOD WHILE QUANTITIES LAST. IF WE RUN OUT OF A SALE ITEM WE WILL SUBSTITUTE AN ITEM OF EQUAL VALUE OR PROVIDE A RAINCHECK UPON REQUEST. Prices Good Wednesday, July 11 through Tuesday, July 17, 2012 Ground Fresh In Store Several Times Daily! 9.25 - 10.5 oz. Selected Varieties Fritos Chips or Cheetos 10 12 Double Roll Charmin Basic Bath Tissue LB. 599 $ 8 Roll Package Bounty Basic Paper Towels 12 Pack 12 oz. Cans Best Choice Soft Drinks 5 - 8 oz. pkg. Selected Varieties Kraft Chunks or Cheese Shreds Ground Beef $197 4/$ for Family Pack Fresh USDA Choice Boneless 5 $ 99 Full Cut Round Steak $287 LB. 9 4/$ FOR Cut Fresh Daily in Store! Bone-In Center Cut Pork Chops $297 4 2/$ FOR Family Pack US Inspected Lean & Tender LB. Family Pack Sanderson Farms 15.77 - 23.45 oz. Selected Varieties Red Baron Pizza 20 oz. Loaf Honey or Fryer Thighs or Drumsticks 2 $ ¢ 97 99 Sara Lee Classic Wheat Bread LB. 5 2/$ 6 Pack 1/2 Liter Bottles 20 oz. Loaf Bunny Sandwich Bread RC Products 1 $ 10 4/$ 79 1027 $ 5 2/$ FOR QUANITY RIGHTS RESERVED. NO SALES TO DEALERS SOME ITEMS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE AT ALL STORES. NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL OR PICTORIAL ERRORS. PRICES GOOD WHILE QUANTITIES LAST. Niagara Water 2 5 12 Pack 12 oz. Bottles Red Potatoes Coke Products $ Michelob Light, Amber or Ultra 5 lb. Bag US #1 24 Pack 16.9 oz. Bottles 20 Pack, 12 oz. Cans Selected Varieties $ 99 99 24 Pack, 12 oz. Cans Milwaukee Best or Best Light Beer 12 $ Half Gallon Frozen Yogurt or Blue Bell Ice Cream 47 9 2/$ Double Manufacturer’s Coupons Everyday up to 50¢ see store for details ENTERTAINMENT www.mississippilink.com July 12 - 18, 2012 THE mississippi link • 19 Eve says Interscope delayed her fourth album eurweb.com After a decade of doing other work and straying away from music, femcee Eve is ripe for a new album. But the artist expressed her frustration in getting her fourth project out the door and to the ears of her longing fans. “I need another word for frus- tration,” she tells Time.com. “I’ve completely gone past frustration 100 times. It’s like with anything that you create - you just want to put out. Because it’s been so long for me, music has changed so much. It’s beyond frustration. I just really can’t wait till this record is out.” She blames Interscope Records, which she left in 2010, for the extreme delay. 50 Cent also recently expressed his irritation with the label and even proposed leaving soon. “It was delays on the label side - I’ve switched management, I’ve switched labels, I’ve switched lawyers,” the MC stated. “And this was over years. And now, I feel like the dust has finally settled and the team that I have now is the right team. Sometimes that’s all it takes, for the stars to be aligned and the dust to settle. And I think we’re there now.” So, this might mean Eve could step back on the scene in full force and give those new chicks a run for their money. Brandy dedicates her life and career to Whitney Houston eurweb.com Multitalented singer and actress, Brandy Norwood got her start in the world of fame at the tender age of 15 as a singer and later as an actress on popular show “Moesha.” The pressures of life and work eventually boiled over, pushing the young diva over the edge with an eating disorder and breakdown. Now 33-years-old, she’s a proud mother of a 9-year-old girl and has taken on a new role on Lifetime series “Drop Dead Diva” as Elisa Shayne. She’s also starring in Tyler Perry’s movie, “The Marriage Counselor.” But her career has come to a place where she feels it’s all for a purpose. With her next album, “Two Eleven” due out in August, she explained Whitney Hous- ton inspired the title and her whole career. “I can just say that her life will never be forgotten and her life has inspired so many people, so many artists, and it’s awakened so many things inside of so many people. You know, it’s unfortunate some of the things she had to experience, but at the end of the day, she blessed so many people. She completely blessed me and changed my life from the moment I saw her open her mouth to sing. I was like ‘Oh my God! If I can just do a third of that, I would be doing something special.’ She continued, “You know, my whole life is dedicated to her. It really is - everything she has ever taught me and to live in that purpose. Yeah, I get shaken up every time I talk about it.” Eve Brandy Sherri Shepherd to play Keke Palmer’s mom in new film eurweb.com Keke Palmer is working on a new project, this time with Sherri Shepherd and Aunjanue Ellis. The three will co-star in a Lifetime production “Abducted: The Carlina White Story,” a film based on the true life story of Carlina White, a girl who solved her own kidnapping mystery and reunites with her birth parents 23 years later. A woman who pretended to be a nurse abducted White from a Harlem hospital in 1987. She then raised her 45 miles outside of Manhattan in Bridgeport, Conn. under the name Nejdra ‘Netty’ Nance. White eventually began to suspect her mother was not her mother at all. So she began to investigate beginning with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Her story made national headlines in January 2011 when she finally reunited with her birth mom, played by Shepherd. KeKe and Shepherd 20 • the mississippi link July 12 - 18, 2012 www.mississippilink.com piggly wiggly July 11 - 17, 2012 110 East Academy Canton, MS 1150 East Peace St. Canton, MS 225 Meadowbrook Rd. JACKSON, MS 2875 McDowell Rd. JACKSON, MS STORE HOURS: Monday - Saturday / 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sunday 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. STORE HOURS: Monday - Saturday / 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sunday 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. 1574 West Governement Rd. BRANDON, MS Crossgates Shopping Village No Cards Needed To Shop Our Low Prices 3 LBS. OR MORE FRESH FRESH QUARTER SLICED GROUND BEEF $ 99 1 USDA CHOICE BEEF FRESH SMALL FRYER PORK LOIN CHOPS $ 99 DRUMSTICKS OR THIGHS $ 29 1 POUND 1 POUND USDA CHOICE BEEF FAMILY PACK, POUND FRESH LEAN BONELESS CHUCK ROAST BONELESS CHUCK STEAK BONELESS STEW MEAT $ 39 $ 69 $ 69 FRESH THIN SLICED FARM RAISED IQF CATFISH 3 POUND FRESH 3 FAMILY PACK, POUND CENTER CUT PORK CHOPS BREAKFAST PORK CHOPS $ 89 $ 99 2 POUND ASSORTED FLAVORS HAWAIIAN PUNCH /4 GALLON JUG 2 $ 2 POUND CALIFORNIA SWEET SWEET & JUICY 1 $ 79 79 5 OZ. CAN ¢ CALIFORNIA FRESH CANTALOUPES CRISP LETTUCE $ 99 $ 99 $ 00 SUPER SELECT LARGE RIPE FRESH 1 CUCUMBERS 1 EACH TOMATOES /89 75 2 EACH ¢ POUND ¢ 1 16 OZ. $ 00 LB. 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