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Jacksonian
Trevor Pickering
Dr. Trevor Pickering, a partner in Mississippi Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center in Jackson, is an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in knees and hips.
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Editor's Note
My Opening Farewell
After my many years with the JFP in numerous roles, the names and faces of all the dedicated souls who passed through the doors are too many to count or …
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Food
Ramsey’s Food Network Debut
Tom Ramsey makes his network debut competing in "Guy's Grocery Games," hosted by Guy Fieri. Sunday, Ramsey will host a watch party at Hal & Mal's.
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Iran Says New Nuke Talk Session in Few Weeks
Reflecting signs of progress at ongoing Iran nuclear talks, the country's foreign minister said Wednesday that his country would meet again with six powers within weeks to further discuss ways …
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Senators Seek Budget Deal, House GOP Effort Flops
Senate leaders are optimistic about forging an eleventh-hour bipartisan deal preventing a possible federal default and ending the partial government shutdown after Republican divisions forced GOP leaders to drop efforts …
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R.I.P. "Wee" Willie Heidelberg
By Tyler ClevelandIn 1970, the University of Southern Mississippi defeated Ole Miss 30-14 in what, to this day, stands as one of the biggest upsets in Mississippi history.
Southern Miss was thrashed the week before by San Diego State, and got torn to pieces the next week by Mississippi State, but managed to beat Archie Manning and the No. 4-ranked Rebels because of a secret weapon.
That weapon was "Wee" Willie Heidelberg, who died Tuesday in Jackson. The then-20-year-old junior was the only black player on either team. He touched the ball three times, and scored twice.
As Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum Director Rick Cleveland wrote:
Wee Willie was like a black dot on an ivory domino, the only black player on the field for either team that day. His performance foreshadowed sweeping changes in Deep South football. On this, the last day of Black History Month, it seems appropriate to ask the question: Was Heidelburg aware of the ramifications back then as a 20-year-old junior?
“Oh no,” Heidelburg says. “I knew that was a special victory. I knew we had done something big. But, as for me, I was just playing ball. I certainly wasn’t thinking about making history.”
Read more here.
Heidelberg eventually moved to Jackson and took a job coaching at Belhaven College. Many Jacksonians will remember him as the official scorekeeper for the high school basketball championships at "the big house."
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Uneven Enforcement Suspected at Nuclear Plants
The number of safety violations at U.S. nuclear power plants varies dramatically from region to region, pointing to inconsistent enforcement in an industry now operating mostly beyond its original 40-year …
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Obama Presents Afghan War Vet with Medal of Honor
A former Army captain whose heroic actions in a deadly Afghan battle were captured on video received the nation's highest military award, the Medal of Honor, from President Barack Obama …
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Ex-Halliburton Manager Pleads Guilty
A former Halliburton manager pleaded guilty Tuesday to destroying evidence in the aftermath of the deadly rig explosion that spawned BP's massive 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
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As Gitmo Plods, Obama's Winning the Case for Court
Four years after his failed effort to bring the 9/11 mastermind to New York for trial, President Barack Obama has reinstated the federal courthouse as America's preferred venue for prosecuting …
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Iran Presents Nuclear Proposals at Geneva Talks
Declaring that Iran no longer wants to "walk in the dark" of international isolation, Iranian negotiators put forward what they called a potential breakthrough plan Tuesday at the long-stalled talks …
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House GOP to Try to Counter Senate Debt Limit Plan
House GOP leaders unveiled their own plan Tuesday to counter an emerging Senate deal to reopen the government and forestall an economy-rattling default on U.S. obligations.
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Pascagoula LNG Terminal Awaits Federal Export OK
Investors spent $1 billion building a facility in Pascagoula to import liquefied natural gas. But plans to bring natural gas into the United States collapsed when explorers began finding large …
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Education
Breaking Away: Top Public Universities Push for 'Autonomy' from States
Across the country, a small but growing number of public universities are looking to cut deals with state lawmakers that scale back direct oversight, often in return for less funding …
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Events
Community Events and Public Meetings
Blues by Starlight is Thursday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. in Highland Village.
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Iran Nuclear Talks in Geneva Spur High Hopes
Don't expect a breakthrough—but the chances for progress have seldom been better. This is the message coming from Iran and six world powers ahead of renewed talks this week meant …
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Poll: Half of Older Workers Delay Retirement Plans
Some 82 percent of working Americans over 50 say it is at least somewhat likely they will work for pay in retirement, according to a poll released Monday by the …
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Chicago Tribune: Josh Marks' Death Ruled a Suicide
By Todd Staufferhttp://jacksonfreepress.com/users/photos/2013/oct/12/14111/
The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Josh Marks, a Chicago native who attended Tougaloo College and worked for a time in Vicksburg for the U.S. Army as a contract specialist, died Friday of a what the coroner has ruled a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The victim, of the South Side, was pronounced dead at 6:37 p.m. on the scene, according to a spokesman for the Cook County medical examiner's office. An autopsy conducted today ruled his death a suicide.
As an amateur chef, Marks was a contestant on the show Masterchef, having left Jackson to compete on the show's third season in 2012. In an article published by the JFP, Marks summed up his experience: Class Under Fire.
This past summer, Marks was arrested for assaulting a police officer and attempting to pull the officer's weapon; he faced multiple felony charges. According to the Tribune:
At the time of Marks' arrest in July, police say he claimed to have been possessed by "MasterChef" judge Gordon Ramsay who turned him into God. During the scuffle, officials say it took multiple officers to capture Marks, after he lunged at one and attempted to take his gun.
Just this past Wednesday a continuance was granted in the case to November 6th.
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Man Says 1973 UFO Incident Turned Life Upside Down
Charles Hickson never regretted the notoriety that came his way after he told authorities he encountered an unidentified flying object and its occupants 40 years ago on the banks of …
