Jackson Free Press

From a Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame release:

Ben Puckett, a businessman and philanthropist who was passionate about Mississippi sports, will receive the second annual Rube Award at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum’s 51induction banquet August 2.

The Rube Award, named for long-time Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum executive director Michael Rubenstein, goes annually to a person whose love and passion for — and contributions to — Mississippi sports have made a meaningful difference. Mississippi baseball legend Boo Ferriss won the first Rube Award.

The award’s winner is selected by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum’s Board of Directors.

Puckett, who died on June 2, spearheaded Mississippi’s Olympic efforts for 26 years. He served as the United States Olympic Committee Mississippi State Chairman for 16 years and as co-chairman for another 10 years. The Ben Puckett family has sponsored the Olympic Room in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum since the shrine opened on July 4, 1996. In 1996, Puckett led a successful effort to have international Olympic teams come to Mississippi to train for the Atlanta Olympic Games.

Cal Wells, a Jackson attorney and long-time friend of Puckett’s remembers Ben’s passion for life and the Olympics.

“Ben had an energy level that was unbelievable; nobody could keep up with him,” Wells said. “I think his love for the Olympics went back to the first games he attended in 1968 at Mexico City. He loved the competition. He was a competitor himself and he loved watching great athletes compete.”

Puckett was a Mississippi State graduate and a huge supporter of Mississippi State athletics. Said long-time Mississippi State athletic director Larry Templeton, “Mississippi State was his school, and he was proud of it, and he was 100 percent behind us all the time. He was a great fan, one that never complained and always wanted to help. He made his contributions behind the scene. He didn't want publicity; he just wanted to make us better.”

Ben Puckett also gave his time and his money to support high school sports and the YMCA.

Tickets to the August 2 induction banquet are available by calling (601) 982-8264. Joining the late Rubenstein as inductees in the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2013 will be Bill Buckner, Jimmie Giles, Gerald Glass, Larry “Doc” Harrington and Langston Rogers.

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba maintains that he is well enough to lead Jackson for the next four years, despite an article that appeared in Wednesday's edition of the Clarion-Ledger bringing his health into question.

Reporters raised questions Lumumba's health during the mayoral race, and notions that his well-being would interfere with his mayoral duties were dismissed by the campaign as rumors. But last week, the 65-year-old Jackson mayor withdrew himself from representing Archie Quinn, who is accused of killing Stacey Gray, 35, of Oktibbeha County, reportedly for medical reasons.

The Ledger article leaned heavily on the reporting of the Starkville Daily News, which reported that Lumumba withdrew for medical reasons, citing a "serious medical examination" scheduled for this week. The newspaper also reported that Lumumba had previously tried to resign from the case, citing a hefty workload from his new gig as mayor. Those motions were denied by Judge Lee Howard, who refused comment for the story.

Reached by phone Wednesday morning, Lumumba's press secretary Latrice Westbrooks released this statement, which also appeared in the Ledger article.

"Mayor Lumumba is healthy and while he dispelled any questions or concerns regarding his health, he, as anyone, has routine medical examinations, check-ups and consultations which are private. There is nothing that was stated during the Archie Quinn case that would indicate that he is nothing short of healthy and fit to serve the people of Jackson."

Lumumba beat prostate cancer in 2000, and has fully recovered from a bout with pneumonia, which landed him in the hospital last year.

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba is attempting to end his representation of another client, Reggae star Buju Banton, in Tampa, Fla.

The withdrawal comes on the heels of the news from Oktibbeha County, where Lumumba last week relinquished his role in the murder case against Archie Quinn, which was scheduled to begin Monday. Lumumba first filed a motion with the court saying his duties as mayor were too burdensome to continue his representation of Mr. Quinn, but that request was denied by the court. He then raised health concerns, according to an account in the Starkville Daily News.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, Banton, born Mark Myrie, is serving a 10-year prison sentence for helping set up a deal to buy and sell 11 pounds of cocaine.

Lumumba had already won Banton the dismissal of a gun charge and left one juror facing a misconduct charge for researching the case during trial.

Lumumba and Imhotep Alkebu-lan, his recent appointment as special assistant to the city attorney, both filed a motion Wednesday in U.S. District Court to withdraw, stating that their new duties "will prevent them from representing him in future proceedings."

Those requests were referred to a magistrate judge.

Mayor Chokwe Lumumba at today's special meeting of the Jackson City Council put forth a $502.5 million budget proposal, which represents a 43.3 percent increase in spending over last year's budget of $350.8 million, to be funded by rate increases on water and sewer services and a return of "overfunding" for Jackson Public Schools.

"This can has been kicked down the road for years," Lumumba said. "I don't see the point in kicking it any farther."

The "can" Lumumba referred to is an aging sewer system, a consent decree from the Environmental Protection Agency that calls for $400 million to be spent over the next 18 years, drainage issues and street repair needs that far outpace the budget allocated to fix them. Lumumba admits his new plan won't solve those problems either, but the first-term mayor assured the council and crowd of approximately 50 that his plan is "a step in that direction."

The budget increases a handful of departments by a small percentage, but, under the plan, Public Works would grow by a whopping $22 million to a total of $398 million.

So, how's the city going to pay for it?

If the budget is passed as-is, the average rate for water will increase from $15/mo. to around $21/mo. and the average rate for sewer will shoot from $14.50/mo. to just over $31/mo., according to the Lumumba. For people who can't afford that increase, the city will set aside a special fund - the Vulnerable Peoples Fund - that the mayor said will have $175,000 in it to help people with fixed income.

City Finance Department Spokesman Rick Hill said that increase will produce a little more than $30 million in additional revenue for the city. In addition, Lumumba said 5.53 mills that were never supposed to be allocated to Jackson Public Schools will account for an additional $6.4 million to balance the budget.

The city council has a couple of weeks to research and respond to the mayor's proposal, and a public hearing has been set for 6 p.m., Sept. 5, at City Hall for citizens to weigh in.

Stay tuned!

Last night was a treat.

The football season officially kicked off with No. 1 Brandon defeating No. 6 Madison Central 21-14 in front of an estimated crowd of 9,000 interested onlookers at Madison's Jaguar Field.

The Bulldogs (1-0) broke a 14-14 tie late in the fourth quarter on a 7-yard Devin Wilson touchdown run. Brandon's highly-touted quarterback Gardner Minshew completed 15 of 28 passes for 216 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and completed a 47-yard pass to Chris Ward to set up the final touchdown.

The City of Jackson will host a town hall meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 28. at Anderson United Methodist Church South at 1315 West McDowell Road to give residents a chance to discuss and ask questions about the mayor's proposed rate hikes on water and sewer services.

A press release from the city yesterday said the meeting was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday night, but it was incorrect, according to the mayor's interim-media liason Latrice Westbrooks.

Westbrooks said Mayor Chokwe Lumumba will be on hand, as well as the city's Director of Public Works Dan Gaillet.

An unmarked package delivered to Jackson Women's Health Organization Tuesday afternoon caused a few minutes of panic and prompted the Jackson Police Department to respond by sending the bomb squad and several police cars.

JWHO, the only abortion clinic in the state, called police to report the package, according to JPD Commander John McGowan, who was still on the scene at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

"It was an unmarked package that was delivered some time early this afternoon," McGowan said. "It was not properly marked, and the people at the clinic did the right thing and called the police. We had the package x-rayed, and it turned out to be some homemade chocolates."

McGowan said the false alarm is the first call they've had in "quite a while" at the clinic.

The monthly meeting of the Jackson Redevelopment Authority was uneventful Wednesday morning, at least in the portion of the meeting open to the public.

For the first hour of the meeting, which began at 10 a.m., board members discussed issues it has had in regards to Union Station, including repeated break-ins on the second floor and a roof that has leaks. The second discussion item involved a planned renovation to the hospitality area adjacent to the meeting room at 218 Presidents Street, where the group meets.

The board then went into executive session to discuss important matters such as the proposed convention center hotel project and an update and call for action regarding the ongoing renovation of Farish Street.

Members on hand included President Ronnie Crudup (Ward 6), who was re-elected to lead the group at the meeting, Beau Whittington (Ward 1), John R. Reeves (Ward 5), Beneta Burk (Ward 3), Gregory Green (Ward 4). Executive Director Willie Mott and Administrative Assistant Denise Drake were also in attendance.

An email distributed by former mayoral candidate Jonathan Lee and his "Friday Forum" group, which meets every Friday morning at Koinonia Coffee House, is asking for letters of support for the Jackson Zoo.

The Jackson Zoological Park's accreditation is up for review later this month, and the Community Outreach Committee of the Zoo Area Progressive Partnership (ZAPP) is collecting letters of support on behalf ot he zoo "from residents, businesses, churches and friends of West Jackson" in an effort to help the zoo keep its current status.

"If you haven't written a letter," Lee wrote, "please take a minute to write a few words about your Zoo-going, your interest in keeping the Zoo in West Jackson, your commitment to help re-develop the Zoo area and promote memberships and visits."

Letters will be accepted until Thursday, September 5, and can be addressed to Ms. Beth Poff at [email protected].

The Jackson City Council will hold a public hearing on the subject of Chokwe Lumumba's proposed budget at 6 p.m. tonight in council chambers at City Hall.

The meeting follows a 4 p.m. meeting of the council's Budget Committee, chaired by former City Council President Tony Yarber (Ward 6).

All interested citizens are encouraged to attend. It will likely by the last public hearing before the council votes on the budget at next week's regular meeting of the city council on Sept. 12 at 10 a.m.

The Mississippi College Athletic Department was proud to announce earlier today the National Collegiate Athletic Association has granted the school permission to rejoin Division II. The JFP received this press release just before noon:

Mississippi College can now move forward to become an NCAA Division II member and rejoin the Gulf South Conference, NCAA officials said Friday.

After being initially turned down earlier this summer, Mississippi College leaders appealed. The NCAA Membership Committee overturned the earlier decision to pave the way for acceptance into the Division II membership process.

“We’re on our way to Division II,” MC Vice President for Advancement Bill Townsend said today. “It’s a great day for Mississippi College athletics and athletes.”

Returning to the Gulf South Conference – MC was a member from 1972 through 1996 – the Choctaws will renew rivalries with teams like Delta State, West Alabama, Valdosta State, North Alabama, and face new Baptist-affiliated opponents like Union University of Jackson, Tennessee and Shorter University of Rome, Georgia.

“This is a great day for the Gulf South Conference,” said GSC Commissioner Michael Salant, who was reached in New York at the time of the announcement on the Clinton campus.

With the additions of all-sports members Shorter, Union, Lee University and Mississippi College plus Florida Tech in football and West Florida to start football, the GSC, “is more cohesive and stronger than it probably ever has been,” he said.

“It’s great to renew old rivalries and establish some new ones,” said Townsend, who worked on the appeal in recent weeks with MC trustee Andy Taggart and others at the Christian university. “As we transition into Division II, we will miss our American Southwest Conference friends.”

MC President Lee Royce and Athletic Director Mike Jones scheduled a press conference at noon at the A.E. Wood Coliseum to discuss details of the move from NCAA Division III to Division II.

There is a lengthy process involved as Mississippi College becomes part of the Division II candidacy starting with the 2013-14 academic year.

MC leaders will need to continue to meet with NCAA leaders every year for three years to remain in good standing.

Why go Division II?

In terms of academics and stronger retention efforts, MC leaders say they are pleased to be one of the 300 NCAA Division II colleges and universities nationwide that count 100,000 student-athletes on their rosters. NCAA reports show 73 percent of the freshmen Division II athletes who entered school in 2004 received college degrees six years later.

The move to play athletic opponents in the region in the Birmingham-based Gulf South Conference will greatly reduce travel time for MC student-athletes and enable the Choctaws to receive greater media exposure around the South and nation. Every fall, CSS broadcasts GSC games of the week.

Mississippi College student-athletes were pleased to hear that the Baptist-affiliated school will be returning to the GSC and Division II. It means athletic scholarships will become available once again for MC students who participate in the 15 NCAA …

The city of Jackson will host a town hall meeting to discuss and answer questions the public may have regarding the proposed water and sewer upgrades. The next Town Hall Meeting will take place in Ward 3 on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 6:30 p.m. at Progressive Missionary Baptist Church at 2323 Powers Avenue.

Concerned or interested citizens are encouraged to attend.

The City of Jackson is proud to announce the grand opening of Trustmark Bank at the Baptist Healthcare Complex is set for Thursday, Sept. 12 at 11 a.m.

The city sent out a press release Wednesday morning announcing the event.

The city of Jackson has relaunched an updated version of JacksonMS.gov, the city's official web site.

The revamped site is more aesthetically pleasing, and features easy-to-follow links to basic information about the city. Another re-vamped feature is video of the city council meetings, which had been spotty in the past.

The meeting from yesterday (Sept. 10, 2013) is already on the web site, and meetings will be shown live, going forward.

If you get a minute, check it out.

Job seekers and students will receive a helping hand as Mayor Chokwe Lumumba and the city of Jackson host the Third Annual Jobs for Jacksonians Job Fair: Graduation Matters on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at Metrocenter Mall.

Jacksonians who are seeking employment are urged to attend to discuss employment opportunities with business participants and to register with the city's Jobs for Jacksonians Coordinator for future opportunities.

More than 75 vendors, including local, national and international companies, are expected to have booths.

Other service providers will also be on hand to conduct interviews and resume writing seminars, and to share best practice tips to improve college preparedness. Local colleges and junior colleges will be represented to discuss educational opportunities as well.

The job fair is sponsored by the City of Jackson, the Governor's Job Fair Network of Mississippi, Millsaps College, the Department of Veteran's Affairs and Metrocenter Mall.

It appears the Eastland Courthouse on East Capitol Street is getting a renovation and a re-purposing. The JFP received this press release (printed here, unedited) earlier this morning:

Tuesday, the developers of the historic Eastland Courthouse unveiled plans to renovate and reopen the 115,000 square foot building as a modern residential complex. With construction already underway, the development, named Capitol & West, is set to open in 2014 and will feature more than 50 residential units, a fine dining restaurant and bar, and first floor commercial space.

Capitol & West is located in the historic Smith Park Architectural District and is in the cultural, governmental, and business center of Downtown Jackson at 245 East Capitol Street.

“Capitol & West speaks to the soul of what this great city is about. This development’s uniqueness, high quality, and rich history set the standard for Downtown living. You can’t get this anywhere else. You have to come to Capitol & West,” said Jason Goree, lead developer.

The first unit buildout is expected to be completed in the spring of 2014 with the entire project completed later that fall. Residents will be able to choose from plans that include one-bedroom, two-bedroom and studio apartments with one to two baths. All apartments are retaining the fine materials and historical features significant to the building, but are being updated with contemporary finishings.

“We’re extremely excited about Capitol & West,” said David Pharr of Team Jackson. “This unique development is an important piece of the puzzle of Downtown’s resurgence. With more residents moving Downtown, it’s only a matter of time before more cultural amenities follow. Capitol & West is a big momentum boost.”

The total cost of the project is $20 million.

Capitol & West is being developed by local attorneys Tom Tardy, Marcy Croft, Jason Watkins, and Developer Jason Goree.

Duvall Decker is the architect of record.

Chris Albritton Construction Company, Inc. is the general contractor.

• Downtown Jackson Partners is proud to announce it is partnering with the Town Creek Arts Festival to host Downtown on Display, an open house event for downtown Jackson businesses. It'll be held on October 5, 2013. From 2 - 5 PM, visitors will have the opportunity to take architectural tours, get access to magnificent views, eat, shop, and listen to live music. Read more here.

• We really enjoyed putting together the "Good" issue of the Jackson Free Press last week. If you missed it, be sure to check out the latest PDF edition on the main page. There are always so many solid ideas in it, and some of them are even feasible.

• I'm gearing up today for a tour of the James Eastland Federal Building with architect Roy Decker, who is going to show JFP photographer Trip Burns and me his plans for transforming the downtown landmark into a new mixed-use building to house residents and some commercial businesses. For more information on the Eastland Building, go here.

• In other news, and in case you're a sports fan, the Jackson State football Tigers improved to 2-0 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play with a 35-7 whipping of Texas Southern last Thursday at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Tigers (2-2) are tied atop the SWAC East standings with rival Alcorn State, which defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 21-16 on Saturday.

• The Barnett Reservoir Foundation and the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District will host a Memphis Barbeque Network (or MBN) judging class at the Rankin Reservoir Community Center from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. It's $80 to enter, but this is awesome because A) An MBN team will cook ribs and pulled pork on site, and B) You get to eat it and learn how to judge the results. There are only 30 spots in the class, so check out the web site. The Barnett Reservoir Foundation and Pearl River Valley Water Supply District is holding an MBN contest called "Smokin’ on The Rez" on Nov. 1-2 at Old Trace Park at Barnett Reservoir.

• One of the best kept secrets in Jackson is Blue Monday at Hal & Mal's hosted by the Central Mississippi Blues Society. It's a celebration of the blues, and musicians are invited to come jam. That's every Monday night, 7:15-8:15 Front Porch acoustic hour, followed by CMBS's Blue Monday Band at 8:45 'til 11PM. Check out their web site here.

• One thing I've always enjoyed as a reporter is Friday Forum, an informational meeting held every Friday morning at Koinonia Coffee House. It's co-hosted by former mayoral candidate Jonathan Lee, and always has interesting guests talking about topics of interest. This week's guest is Kathy Times, Vice President/ COO of WhereToGo411.com. Times will be speaking about the State Institutions of Higher Learning's Minority Economic Opportunity Initiative/WhereToGo411 Partnership. Should be fun so come on out.

When it comes to who has been elected mayor of Hattiesburg, the votes are in, but the results are not. After failing to find a clear winner in the first go-round in June, the Hub City is trying again - and failing miserably.

Absentee ballot counting continues late Wednesday afternoon following Tuesday's special election, which was monitored by representatives from the Department of Justice and Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann's office.

The good news is that Hattiesburg isn't alone in its futility. Apparently the whole world is following along, as #haelex is currently the third-highest trending topic on Twitter.

Challenger Dave Ware, an independent, led incumbent Democrat and former gubernatorial candidate Johnny Dupree by 32 votes when the absentee counting began this morning. Political cartoonist Marshall Ramsey has already chimed in.

There's usually plenty to do on Fridays in Jackson, and if you are like me, you're going to have a tough time deciding exactly which of these awesome events to attend:

• The city of Jackson is celebrating National Night Out on Friday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at City Hall to increase crime prevention awareness. Here's the kicker: Jackson State University's Sonic Boom of the South will lead the "Confidence March Against Crime" from Smith Park to City Hall, beginning at 11 a.m.

• The Jackson premiere of the documentary film "SubSIPPI" from the creative minds of Greg Gandy, Vincent Chaney, & Lauren Cioffi is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Mississippi Museum of Art. Make sure to check out the trailer here. It's free to attend and it's on the lawn outside, so make sure to bring a blanket on which to sit.

• Jackson Prep (4-1) is riding high coming off last week's 19-13 win over Madison-Ridgeland Academy, but they are in for a real test when the country boys from Bassfield, Mississippi's 2-A reigning champs, roll into town for a public-versus-private-school matchup. Prep is a much bigger school with more players on its football team, but they'll hardly be able to keep step with the speed of one of Mississippi's best prep teams. Should be one for the ages.