Review of New Starkville Restaurants

The former location of a coffee shop on Main Street has now opened up as a restaurant and bar. Big Daddy's Restaurant is located inside the historic Hotel Chester, which is a great place to stay for football games. I ate lunch at Big Daddy's on Wednesday and was disappointed in not only the Philly Cheesesteak sandwich but also the atmosphere at the restaurant. I was hoping that this would be a place I could recommend but the food was very average and again the atmosphere was nothing special.

As for dinner, I ate at the new Boar's Head Bar and Grill. I highly recommend the Boar Head's chicken which was a very tasty entree and came with great sides. The crowd could have been better but I have to say that the food was delicious. The bar also allows direct access to the Little Dooey, its owner, and a new area which will feature dartboards and video games.

Everyone should try each of these new establishments on their own. These opinions are mine and mine only so I recommend trying each of these on your own before forming an opinion.

Blog From 2 Who Faced Storm Head-on

Eye of the Storm is a blog of two young journalists who decided to stay on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and report on Hurricane Katrina. Here's their description from a few day's ago:

Welcome to a window looking into imminent destruction. This blog is being brought to you by two guys too dumb to get out of the way of what is turning into one of the most destructive natural forces to hit the mainland U.S. ever.We are both journalists working at the Sun Herald, a paper that covers all of coastal Mississippi. My name is Mike Keller, the environment reporter down here. My colleague is Josh Norman, a metro reporter who normally covers Long Beach. For updates, go to www.sunherald.com.We are holed up in the newsroom. It is becoming dark outside and all the news coming out of the television shows a well-formed and dangerous Hurricane Katrina due south of us.

Larkin Kennedy's Blog

Larkin Kennedy, the first person I ever met from Inverness, MS and a good friend of mine, has joined Team Blog. He's just getting going but he has already included many interesting links and pics. I strongly encourage everyone to check out his article on how we can help out the victims of Katrina at http://www.larkinkennedy.blogspot.com/.

Welcome aboard Big Don.

Rickshaw in Starkville

Since their was so electricity at my house or office in Jackson, I traveled to Starkville on Tuesday to work out of the Starkville office of Smith, Reeves, & Yarborough. I went to Roxie's to get supper and a few beers. By the way, I recommend the chicken fajitas, which have been good on more than one occasion, and they go well with the many imported beers they have on tap.

The reason I tell all of this is that after we were finished eating, a rickshaw peddled up and asked if anyone needed a ride. I talked to the driver and asked about his operation. He said that he had designed and helped build the rickshaw and that he traveled University Drive from Mugshots to the Cotton District. The driver, who seemed to be a student, explained that he had no set fee but that he worked for tips only.

I was glad so see the ingenuity of a college student and the additional services which he will provide. This is proof that Starkville continues to become more of a bicycle-friendly community and also gives students an alternative to driving home drunk. By the way, he said he will be working this weekend so I hope that people will choose to use his services. It would be a lot more romantic than taking a date on the Night Route.

New Orleans Live Webcams

For some interesting footage, check out these webcams located throughout New Orleans.

Good Beer in Jackson

Ran across this tidbit in the Jackson Free Press:

For those who want to sample a variety of imported and micro-brewed beers, some local retailers offer the option to create your own six-pack. McDade’s, with three stores located throughout the Jackson area, lets you mix and match beers so you can try different kinds of beers without having to buy an entire six-pack of the same brand. The cost for creating your own six-pack is $8.99 at McDade’s.

I dropped by the McDade's in Fondren over the weekend and they have a great selection of beer if you want to pursue this option. McDade's also has a location in Maywood Mart and just recently moved to the old Jitney 14 in Belhaven.

Rainbow Whole Foods Cooperative Grocery in Fondren also has a good selection of imported beer. This is the only place in Jackson where I can find my favorite beer, Leffe Blonde from Belgium.

Renderings for Fondren's Central Park

Top: Intersection of State St./Duling Ave.
Bottom: View of Old Canton/Duling Ave. intersection

Here are some renderings for Central Park, Mike Peters' newest development in Fondren. Here is an article on the development from the Clarion-Ledger.

August 25, 2005

Former school to be Fondren housing units

Developer, JPS strike deal to make historic Duling School part of project

By Cori Bolger
cbolger@clarionledger.com

J.D. Schwalm/The Clarion-Ledger The grassy lots and the historic Duling School are under consideration for development by Mike Peters, who turned the Fondren Corner complex into a shopping area. The school would become condominiums, while an addition would offer retail and commercial space.

The building where hundreds of children once learned their ABCs could soon become home to hundreds of full-time residents.

Under an agreement between the Jackson Public Schools, developer Mike Peters has created plans to turn the historic Duling School in Fondren into a 120-unit residential space as part of a larger structure featuring commercial, office and retail components.

In combination with adjacent buildings, such as the Pix Capri Theater and Fondren Corner, the area is set to become a full-fledged shopping and dining district in a neighborhood that's gradually undergone a creative transformation.

"It's going to be the biggest thing that's happened to Fondren, and it's going to change the face of Fondren," said Camp Best, executive director of the Fondren Renaissance Foundation.

Said Nathan Glenn, owner of Rooster's and Basil's restaurants in Fondren: "I think it will make Fondren the hub of Jackson."

An architectural rendering set up in nearby Fondren Corner depicts the proposed development in three phases spread across 5 acres and collectively named "Central Park." Peters, however, would not release any detailed information, saying negotiations with JPS aren't finalized.

Two Art Deco-style condominium buildings and adjacent parking lots will be located around the school along Duling Avenue between North State Street and Old Canton Road in Fondren.

Initial construction on the project, which could top $20 million, will begin sometime after Jan. 1. The 26,261-square-foot school, which was built in 1927, is currently being utilized by adult education classes and JPS administration.

"We're still finalizing the design and selecting the contractors," Peters said. "(The design) is still shifting and changing."

A new state law allows school districts to turn over property, such as Duling School, for private development. The districts will retain 20 percent equity in the project.

Before the law, districts could dispose of the property by donating it to a nonprofit organization, or sell it at auction.

David Watkins, a Jackson lawyer who serves as outside counsel to JPS, said any renovation of Duling School would be valued between $10 million and $20 million, and the school district could see $2 million to $4 million in return once the property is sold.

Last week, the JPS board chose Peters' proposal for redeveloping the school and approved a contract negotiation. Four other developers submitted proposals for consideration.

Peters is one of three developers who created Fondren Corner, which is touted as a key part of Fondren's revitalization.

He also began work on the 12-story Plaza Building in Jackson last year. The renovations will include apartments in the downtown building.

"We thought his proposal would add the most value to the area and the most economic benefit to the school district," Watkins said.

"Until we have the contract (finalized)," he added, "there's always a possibility it can fail."

Peters' design impressed Best because of its attention to preservation fused with modern additions.

Best said he thinks the project should be completed within two years. "I think it will have a huge effect pushing the renovation of the Pix Capri Theater and other properties."

Several restaurant owners are interested in moving their businesses into the building, said Glenn, who plans to relocate Basil's to Peters' building once the space is ready.

Glenn said he expects an influx of young professionals and artists will move into the region because of its proximity to downtown Jackson.

"You're living and working in the same area where you eat, shop and play without the automobile and gas cost," Glenn said. "I expect this will have a much larger impact than Fondren Corner because of its dimensions."

Fondren resident and artist Ellen Douglas rides her bike to and from her home and studio and appreciates the easy access. Douglas said she hopes the new developments bolster surrounding property value, though the issue of affordability for artists and young people concerns her.

"I can't see it being anything but good for the city and the neighborhood," Douglas said. "If there was an office store, breakfast place and tennis courts there, I'd never leave."

Tracking Katrina

The best place to get updates on Hurricane Katrina are at the National Hurricane Center. The latest predictions have Katrina coming ashore near the Louisiana-Mississippi border around 7:00 AM on Monday.

Oxford Square May Get Hotel & Parking Garage

According to the Daily Journal, a private company may develop a six-story hotel and parking garage just off the Square. The hotel will include a spa, cooking school and lobby bar as well as an open-air atrium with a retractable roof. The garage will offer 176 places for public parking. Hotel to ease Oxford parking? 8/27/2005 12:08:55 AM

By Jennifer Farish
Daily Journal Oxford Bureau

OXFORD - A committee on Square parking has recommended a six-story hotel and parking garage to ease traffic problems in the popular area.


The city-appointed committee began the process with three proposals but quickly ruled out one. Earlier this month, a plan for a locally-owned hotel across from the Chancery Building also was withdrawn.


So, next week the committee will recommend that Craigside Leasing be allowed to lease the city parking lot behind City Hall for a luxury hotel and garage. Officials said the discussion will be held in executive session because it falls under the exemption for industry locations.


Parking on the public Square has been a growing problem for businesses and offices as the city's population has grown. In fact, parking is so tight that the committee has recommended aldermen continue to look at ways to add more parking even if the hotel project is approved.


The proposal calls for the first three stories of the structure to serve as public parking, with plans for hotel guests and employees to park off-site.


If that is enforced, the city will gain 176 parking places. However, the committee is concerned that the hotel's off-site parking policy may not work.


"While such a practice might work for the hotel employees, the committee believes that policing and enforcing this practice for hotel guests will be difficult," stated a report to aldermen.


The $25 million hotel will include 112 rooms, a spa, cooking school and lobby bar as well as an open-air atrium with a retractable roof. On the exterior, the development has a civic plaza.


The first two levels of the parking garage are expected to be turned over to the city within 220 days of of construction onset. The rest of the development is expected to be completed in a year and a half.


Mayor Richard Howorth has said the public will have an opportunity to voice opinions before final plans are approved.

Student Shot on JSU's Campus

The Clarion-Ledger is reporting that a Jackson State student was shot in the Student Union on Friday.
Here's the article:

August 26, 2005

Man shot in chest on JSU campus

The Clarion-Ledger

A man was shot in the chest today on the Jackson State University campus during an altercation in the student union's first floor, officials said.

It wasn't immediately known if the man, transported to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, was a JSU student. His condition also was not immediately known.

The shooting apparently occurred shortly after 1 p.m. on the first floor of the student union near the campus bookstore.

"We have one young man in the hospital, and one young man in custody," JSU President Ronald Mason said.

"I don't know the reason. It's a real tragic thing."

Campus police apprehended the alleged gunman, Mason said. It was not immediately known if he was a JSU student.

Gabrielle Frazier, a sophomore English major from Jackson, said she is a friend of the victim, but knows only his first name. She said the victim is a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

"When I got out of class, people were running and saying somebody was shot. I don't understand why anybody would shoot him," Frazier said. "He's an outgoing guy, and a lot of people know him. I'm still in shock."

Mason said the shooting does not represent usual activities on the state's only urban university campus.

"We have a solid security force . . . guard booths at every entrance. What else we could do, I don't know," Mason said.

Students echoed his sentiments.

"I still feel it's a very secure campus," said Kori Nichols , a senior biology major.

Java Chatman, a senior elementary education major from Jackson, said shootings can happen anywhere. "There are guns around (campus), and there are guns out on the street," he said.

— MORE DETAILS AS THEY DEVELOP AND TOMORROW IN PRINT AND ONLINE EDITIONS

Blogregory on top of the game

Thomas Gregory's blog continues to be the best source of fresh information coming out of Starkville. On Thursday, he included pictures of the former Le Galerie shopping center, now Cotton Crossing, and a story on the upcoming bar, Whiskey Blues.

According to Blogregory, Whiskey Blues which is in the location in the old 'Manhattan Lounge, will offer:

"New Orleans style atmosphere, an array of live music and more than 15 different brands of whiskey. Bands scheduled to play this fall include Day Break Down, the Patrick Smith Band, Taylor Grocery and Electric Mud. The bar will be limited to patrons 21 years of age and older and will open Thursday, September 8. "

Central Park to be built in Fondren

Today's Clarion-Ledger reports that developer Mike Peters, who was one of the partners behind Fondren Corner, has pland to build a mixed-use development with 120 residential units at thelocation of the Duling school (across the street from Brent's Drugs). The article also mentions Peters' renovation of the Plaza Building downtown which will include apartments for downtown residents. Click here for an article on the Plaza Building and downtown developments.

Need to locate a person or phone number?

ZABASearch.com is a website that provides phone numbers along with addresses and former addresses on just about anyone. I've heard that some unlisted phone numbers can be found on the site. Unfortunately, these are the type of things that will allow any ex's or stalkers to find you.

Sunday Beer Sales in Starkville?

In a Wednesday Daily Journal article, Starkville Mayor Dan Camp states that he wants the Board of Aldermen to adopt Sunday beer sales in the future as he feels this will encourage more restaurants to open on Sunday. The article also identifies the recent accomplishments of the Board.

King Edward Renovation

Above: Mill Street Aqueduct renovations

The Jackson City Council voted 6-1 Tuesday night to apply for a $4 million grant which would pay for environmental studies on the Hotel King Edward, a Jackson landmark. With investors putting up $45 million of the needed $55 million, the project still looks like it has a good chance of happening. Along with the Mill Street aqueduct renovations and recently-renovated Amtrak station, this will greatly improve the aesthetics of downtown Jackson along with adding some much-needed residents.

Clarion-Ledger article

Fat and Lazy Party Animals

All in one day, the state of Mississippi was found to be the fattest of the fifty states while Ole Miss was found to be #1 School Where Students Almost Never Study according to the Princeton Review. The good news is that Ole Miss was found to be the 7th best party school in the nation. Maybe all the partying combined with no studying makes everyone fat.

In its article, the Clarion-Ledger reports:

Mississippi tops nation in obesity levels, study shows

Mississippi once again leads the nation as the heaviest state, according to a study of federal statistics released today.

More than 64 percent of people in the Magnolia State are either obese or overweight, the highest percentage in the nation, according to the report released today by Trust for America's Health, an advocacy group.

The organization studied data from the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that showed that the percentage of obese adults for 2002-04 stood at 22.7 percent nationally.

The percentage for the previous cycle, 2001-03, was 22 percent.

The state with the largest increase in obesity was Alabama. There, the rate increased 1.5 percentage points to 27.7 percent. Oregon's rate held steady at 21 percent.

Most experts and Mississippians blame the state's low economic and education levels, as well as its fried cuisine.

"It's difficult to change a behavior like eating over the long haul," said Scott Owens, an associate professor of exercise science at the University of Mississippi in Oxford.

"It doesn't mean we shouldn't be trying."

The obesity problem continues to dominate Southern states, with Alabama, West Virginia, Louisiana and Tennessee also carrying the the highest percentage of obese adults.

The states with the lowest percentage of obese adults are Colorado, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont and Montana. Hawaii was not included in the report.

An official with the Trust for America's Health said the United States is stuck in a "debate limbo" about how the government should confront obesity. She used the report to call for more government action on several fronts, such as ensuring that land use plans promote physical activity; that school lunch programs serve healthier meals; and that Medicaid recipients get access to subsidized fitness programs, such as aerobics classes at the local YMCA.

"We have a crisis of poor nutrition and physical inactivity in the U.S., and it's time we dealt with it," said Shelley A. Hearne, executive director of the organization.

Credit Cards Lost At Sea Returned After 39 Years

Good story on MSNBC about a man who lost his credit cards overboard in 1966 and recently had them returned.

I Think You Call This A Blowout

Belgian Women's Team Loses 50-1 After Goalie Decides To Skip Game

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian women's soccer team SK Berlaar had to stomach a 50-1 defeat against rival KV Mechelen on Saturday because their goalkeeper had opted to attend a music concert instead, a local newspaper said.

"Our keeper went to Pukkel Pop. That's why," substitute goalkeeper Charlotte Jacobs told Het Laatste Nieuws daily on Monday.

KV Mechelen scored their first goal after only four seconds.

"At half-time the score was 27-0. But after half-time we were able to recover. We had to stomach only 23 goals and we scored once ourselves, right at the end. They allowed us to score. That was sweet of them," Jacobs added.

Top 10 Party School List Comes Out Today

University administrators across the country are holding their breath today as the Princeton Review announces their Top 10 Party Schools. Now schools across the country are taking steps to avoid the list such as changing campus policies and regulating beer sales off campus. Here's an article from USA Today on some universities' efforts:

Concerned colleges try to stanch flow of cheap beer

By Matt Reed, USA TODAY

Several universities regularly listed among the nation's top "party schools" are joining city officials and bar owners to try to curb the supply of the biggest contributor to binge drinking on and off campus: abundant, cheap beer.

The University of Florida is working with Gainesville bar owners, beer distributors and City Hall to discourage drink-till-you-drop specials and to start police "party patrols" to clamp down on rowdy keggers and kids violating the national legal drinking age of 21.

The University of Wisconsin published a guide for students on how to throw a safe house party without serving half the student body. Parents of incoming freshmen got a letter from Chancellor John Wiley warning that "high-risk drinking is one of the prime reasons that some students don't succeed."

"We're not prohibitionists," UW-Madison spokesman John Lucas says. "If we could get everyone to tone it down just a couple of drinks per night, it would make a big difference."

Such efforts take on added importance this week on U.S. campuses as students arrive for fall classes in many states, including Florida, California and New York. The Princeton Review today releases its annual "Top 10 Party Schools" list, based on thousands of student surveys, as part of its Best 361 Colleges guide.

Two factors drive drinking on campus, according to studies from 1993 to 2004 by Harvard's School of Public Health:

•Price. The lower the cost of pitchers, kegs and cases of beer, the higher the rates of heavy drinking among students. Aggressive advertising in campus newspapers feeds the problem, data show.

•Prevalence. The higher the number of bars and liquor stores around campus, the higher the percentage of binge drinkers, who have four or five drinks at a sitting.

Last year, five students in four states died of alcohol poisoning, and about 1,400 die each year in alcohol-related incidents such as fights, car accidents and falls from balconies.

Researchers last fall concluded that college towns that discourage drink discounts, toughen ID checks and banish beer from campus buildings endure slightly fewer problems.

"When it's cheaper to get drunk on a weekend than to go to a movie, then that does something to choices," says lead researcher Henry Weschler of Harvard.

Contributing: Reed reports daily for Florida Today in Melbourne

Wise Man Faulkner

Since I start my first full week of work this week, I thought I would share a quote from Mississippian Bill Faulkner:

"It's a shame that the only thing a man can do for eight hours a day is work. He can't eat for eight hours; he can't drink for eight hours; he can't make love for eight hours. The only thing a man can do for eight hours is work."

Not speaking from personal experience but I've heard rumors that you can drink for eight hours. And with the junk mail that I receive about prescription drugs, you may be able to make love for eight hours. Unfortunately I will be doing neither of these two this week.

New Condos in Starkville

As mentioned a few weeks ago, there are plans for 2 condo developments just off Mississippi State's campus. The Magnolia, will be located where the abandoned Creamery stood for the last few decades. According to the pictures on their website, you will be able to wear turtlenecks in the new sixty-unit development.

The Cotton Mills Condos will be built on the corner of Highway 12 and Russel Street where Auxiliary Plaza currently is. According to the website, they have reservations for 69 of the condos.

There are also rumors of a condo development to be built just off campus that is supposedly nicer than these two.

MSU Frat Guy Gets DUI on Tractor

SPD probes tractor theft as possible hazing incident
By BRIAN HAWKINS/Starkville Daily News

An overnight incident in which a member of a Mississippi State fraternity stole a tractor from a Starkville construction site and drove it onto campus has Police Department detectives investigating whether hazing may have been involved.

David Adam Eldridge, 20, of 113 Mosswood Lane, Clinton, was charged with grand larceny and DUI (first offense) in connection with the incident, which was occurred between midnight Thursday and 12:34 a.m. Friday.

Eldridge remained held on in the Oktibbeha County Jail Friday night on a bond of $8,476.

According to Starkville police reports, Eldridge, who officers later confirmed was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, took a $25,000 John Deere 5520 tractor from an apartment construction site on Russell Street at Planter's Row around midnight Thursday. SPD Sgt. Bill Lott would not comment on whether the key was left in the tractor or if it was "hot-wired."

Between midnight and the time of his arrest more than a half-hour later, he was seen driving the tractor past the Cheers bar in the former La Galerie shopping center then back east toward Highway 12, witnesses told police.

He then reportedly drove the tractor west on Highway 12 toward Spring Street, turning back onto Bully Boulevard to the MSU campus. He then drove the tractor onto C.O. Sheely Circle behind Fraternity Row, stopping behind the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house when stopped by MSU police officers, reports state.

The owner of the tractor reclaimed it as Eldridge was taken into custody by Starkville police officers, reports state.

Though he would not give specific details, Lott said "certain information" obtained in the investigation has resulted in a further probe to determine if the incident might have resulted from hazing involving other Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity members.

Lott said officers have spoken with MSU Director of Student Life Eddie Keith, whose office oversees campus Greek organizations, about the incident and the ongoing investigation.

Keith confirmed for police that Eldridge was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha. Lott said.

Depending on what the investigation reveals, additional arrests could occur, Lott said.

"If this is indeed hazing incident, it could lead to the arrests of others," Lott said. "They would be charged according to their level of participation in the incident."

Under state law, those charged in hazing incidents could be charged with either first or second degree hazing.

First degree hazing involves conduct that causes actual injury or "intentionally or recklessly creates" a substantial risk of physical injury to an individual or to a third person.

The penalty for a first degree hazing conviction is a fine of $2,000 or six months in jail or both.

Second degree hazing involves conduct that "intentionally or recklessly creates" a substantial risk of physical injury to an individual or to a third person. The penalty for second degree hazing conviction is a $1,000 fine.

Upcoming Jackson Concerts Announced

Son Volt and Widespread Panic have both recently announced tour dates in Jackson.

Son Volt, who recently released their first album Okemah and the Melody of Riot after breaking up for a few years, will play Wednesday, September 21st at Hal & Mal's. The following night a great band, Blueground Undergrass, will play at the same venue.

Widespread Panic will play at the Jackson Coliseum Friday, October 21st. General admission tickets are $30 and are on sale now at Ticketmaster or by calling (800) 488-5252.

Sturgis South Motorcycle Rally

Mississippi's version of the Sturgis Bike Rally kicks off Friday. Over 35,000 visitors are expected for the event in Sturgis, a town with a population of 280. If you've never been, it's worth the trip. This year the bands include "Little Texas" and "Mustang Sally".
Click here for the schedule.

Wild Elephants in The U.S.

Wildlife conservation groups are proposing a plan which would transplant African elephants to the Great Plains region to ensure their survival.

Click here to read the article.

Festivals in Jackson

There are 2 festivals in Jackson this weekend, one in Fondren and one in Belhaven. On Friday night, Rainbow Whole Foods will host a benefit for the Video Cafe beginning at 8:00.
Here are the details:
On Friday, August 19th at 8 PM, the Rainbow Plaza will be hoppin' with local acts: Circus of the Seed (3rd favorite Jackson Band in JFP's 2004 reader's poll), and Alexander's Dark Heart. There will be food, prepared by High Noon chef Domini and Video Cafe chef Sandy, drinks, and dancing. There will also be a movie trivia game show for you movie buffs, so come test your skills. This is an all-ages event so don't think you're too old to come out and enjoy some socializing for a good cause. The cost is only $5 and it starts at 8pm.

At 5:30 p.m., on Saturday, August 20, the Greater Belhaven Main Street Program will launch Bright Lights, Belhaven Nights, a summertime street festival promoting the unique, historic neighborhood. Local favorite King Elementary will be playing at the McDade’s Parking Lot Stage from 8-9. Click here for the full schedule.

It should be a fun weekend in Jackson. I encourage everyone to support these 2 homegrown festivals.

Surcharge Instead of Tips?

At least one New York restaurant is adopting a system where diners pay a flat rate surcharge, here 20%, instead of the traditional discretionary tip. I really don't like this idea for multiple reasons including:
1) It gives waiters no incentive to work hard,
2) The customer has no way to deduct for bad service, and
3) It could be another way that restaurants make more money if they take a portion of the percentage and then give the remainder to the employees.

Hopefully this idea will only work at the nicest of restaurants, which may mean that it will never reach Mississippi. I would hate for this to become mainstream and have to pay a fast food employee even when they screw up your order after you have waited 10 minutes for the food. I have always liked the method many other cultures, including much of Europe, use in applying gratuity: Nothing is expected but exceptional service can be rewarded with a small tip.

Alderman Corey's Blog

Starkville Alderman Richard Corey has a great synopsis of Tuesday's meeting on his blog including this rendering for the downtown justice complex.

Also, Robbie Ward has an article on the facility in the Daily Journal.

Reality Sets In

Pics from Chicago: U2 Concert and the 3 of us "geared up" for a Cubs game

The Good News: We had a great trip to Chicago. I highly recommend a trip to Wrigley Field at any time, but it's even crazier during the St. Louis series since thousands of fans clad in "Pujols" jerseys flood the city of Chicago. By the way, I take back anything negative I have ever said about girls from the Midwest because we saw plenty of good-looking females over the extended weekend. Note to guys: A Cubs series in Chicago would make a great bachelor party. Also, we went to an improv club on Monday night and I highly recommend an improv show if you have never seen one. Chicago has 3 great improv clubs including The Second City, which has produced many of the comedians for Saturday Night Live.

The Bad News: After taking the bar exam and the excursion to Chicago, it's time for work to begin. After 8 great years of college, it's finally time for the Real World-Jackson to kick in: I start work Wednesday at Smith, Reeves, & Yarborough. Depression, here I come. Oh yea, it was a U2 cover band.

Starkville May See Downtown Municipal Complex

The Starkville Board of Aldermen voted unanimously in favor of a resolution to study the feasibility of building the new justice complex downtown. For anyone not familiar with the municipal justice complex debate in Starkville, the former Board of Aldermen voted 2 years ago to pursue a plan which put the new $5 million building on the bypass near Wal-Mart. Over 2,000 local citizens signed a petition spearheaded by current Mayor Dan Camp to prevent the construction on the bypass but many of the signatures were struck from the petition by city leaders for various reasons. Even after the strong opposition by citizens, the Board refused to reconsider their position and many people have speculated that this led to the defeat of the former aldermen in June's election.

According to the Starkville Daily News article:

Starkville aldermen voted Tuesday to move forward in creating a possible plan for a downtown municipal justice complex that incorporates new offices for the city's Electric Department into the mix.

The board, in a unanimous 6-0 vote, also authorized Mayor Dan Camp to pursue development of complete proposal for the project, including full schematic drawings for facility, a landscape plan, detailed cost estimates and a timeline/strategy for acquiring the 10 parcels of land that comprise the property.

The property in question is known as Block 18A on city plat maps. The complex, if constructed there, would be located on an entire city block surrounded by Highway 182 to the north, Lafayette Street and Douglas Conner Drive to the east and west, respectively, and Jefferson Street to the south.

A sketch of the building shows that it is a modified version of the justice complex facility that had been proposed on a site fronting the new Highway 25 bypass south of Highway 12 - a site that generated much controversy in the community in the last two years and resulted in a petition drive for a referendum on the project funding.

The new complex proposal locates the Police Department and Municipal Court on opposite ends of the building with the Electric Department located in the center.

The main entrance to the building would face Lafayette Street.

Architect Gary Shafer, who presented initial renderings and possible costs to the aldermen Tuesday, and Camp said initial financial estimates for the project place the total cost at around $8.4 million.

In my opinion, it is in Starkville's best interest to build the new complex downtown. Even if the pricetag is larger than building it on the bypass, their are multiple side effects of downtown revitalization, including aesthetics and additional business for downtown merchants by those using the complex. I know that there are many people who wanted it on the bypass because they believe that the Starkville Police Department deserves a new facility as soon as possible. It is my hope that these people will get behind and support the downtown plan so that it can become a reality in the near future.

Here is a plan devised my graduate students in one of Professor Pete Melby's classes. The Melby Plan, as it has been termed, puts great emphasis on the downtown area including the addition of residential properties, bike lanes, parks, and museums. (Click on the picture to zoom in.) The reason that I included it here is because the plan also called for a downtown municipal complex. Tuesday night, the Board also approved a plan which establishes a bike lane on University Drive from the entrance to MSU's campus all the way to Main Street. Although the plan will displace around 50 parking places on University Drive, hopefully it will encourage more bike and pedestrian traffic throughout this main corridor of Starkville. The bike path was also an element of the Melby plan.

Law school in a nutshell?

How about lawschool in a blender! This recipe applies pretty well to all lawschools, but is formulated especially for Ole Miss. Thanks to Will Simpson for the recipe.

Season to taste.

1 part letter of recommendation from daddy's rich
drinking buddy

1 part desire to drive a really bitchin' BMW

2 parts infatuation with sound of own voice

3 parts ego (this ingredient is used to mask the flavor of the of the next "secret ingredient")

1 part sneaking suspicion that everyone is smarter than you

sprinkle in longshot hope that sorority girl you have seen on the square will give you the time of day now that she knows you are "going places"

a splash of desire to actually do some good for people

Fill to top in final stage of mixing with realization that lawschool has been woefully inadequate for the purposes of ACTUAL Practice!

Windy City or Bust

This page will probably be slow to dead over the weekend since I'm headed to Chicago to catch the Cubs-Cardinals series. More importantly I will be enjoying my last hoorah before I start work next week. I hope to bring back some good stories but no personal knowledge of the strength of the netting over the grandstand at Wrigley.

Strong Sad, Strong Mad, and Strong Bad

If you don't know who these characters are then you obviously have not heard about Homestar Runner. HR is a free cartoon available originally only on the internet and done by a few guys who have now quit their job to run the website full time. They generate revenue only by DVD and merchandise sales, which are big sellers with their cult following.

The strength of HR is that it appeals to children and adults alike, just like Family Guy and The Simpsons. However, you have to watch a few cartoons before you get used to the oddly-shaped characters and get to know their personalities.

My favorite by far is Strong Bad. If you've never seen any of the cartoons, I recommend Strong Bad's e-mails. Turn on your speakers, scroll down and just pick a cartoon. I think that "Lures & Jigs", the first one I saw, is probably a good one to start with. "Long pants" is also pretty good.
By the way, new cartoons are added to the site every week.

You Know You Have Too Much Money If....

Space Adventures, an Arlington, Va., based company, announced plans Wednesday morning to sell trips near the moon for $100 million each--you don't land on the moon, just fly by it. In the past few years this company set up a deal for people to visit the International Space Station for $20 million each. What's next: you pay $500 million and you get to fly by the space shuttle's launch pad.

Check out Blogregory

Greenwood native Thomas Gregory has started a blog within the past week and he has done a good job of covering recent developments in Starkville and at Mississippi State for those interested.

Click here to check it out.

News Alert: Fed Increases Interest Rate

The Federal Reserve has increased the key interest rate to 3.5 percent, the highest level in almost four years. Just my luck: I signed a contact on a house Friday, met with a person at the bank on Monday and they raise the rates on Tuesday before I can get anything locked in. It's good to know that I'll be paying more interest than nearly all of the country since most people have refinanced on the last few years.

Can't Think of a Place for Lunch?

For those who didn't see the winners a few months ago, here are winners of the Jackson Free Press' survey for best food and drink in Jackson. Also see Page 2.

Small Steps of Progress

Photo by Becky Wilkes of Starkville Daily News

The latest change in Starkville may be considered "trashy" by some but most people will find the Camp administration's idea to paint all dumpsters maroon one of the small details that separate a town with a college from a great college town. I hope that Starkville will see more improvements like this over the next four years. From what I have heard, don't be surprised if you see maroon fire trucks in the next few years.

In a SDN article, Mayor Camp also outlined his upcoming goals, one of the most important being the conversion of Russell Street into a boulevard with sidewalks on each side to encourage pedestrian traffic. One of Camp's quotes in the article: "I love sidewalks."

Ron Burgundy: "Dan, are you just looking at things in the office and saying that you love them?"

Brick: "I love lamp."

If you're not laughing you haven't seen Anchorman enough.

In other news, the names of some of the bands for Bulldog Bash have been released. Bulldog Bash, which will be held Friday, September 23rd before the Georgia game, will feature nine bands including country star Julie Roberts, R&B band 112, and headliner Will Hoge. Stay tuned for the full list of bands. The event, which drew over 30,000 people last year, begins at 5:00 with a pep rally and lasts until 1:00 AM in the Cotton District.

And People Say Cheerleading Isn't a Sport

Article from CNN.com:

Cheerleaders help police catch driver who left accident scene

Monday, August 8, 2005; Posted: 11:53 a.m. EDT (15:53 GMT)

A man who left an accident scene was tracked down with the help of some cheerleaders who witnessed the crash and turned his license plate number into a cheer, police said.

Members of the Lincoln High School varsity cheerleading squad from neighboring Ypsilanti were in Ann Arbor for a Universal Cheerleaders Association's camp when they saw the wreck near the University of Michigan campus.

"I knew I was going to not remember it because there was too much going on," coach Patricia Clark said Monday on NBC's "Today." "So, when I ran down the street and got the plate number, I yelled to the girls: 'Remember this!"'

The cheerleaders put their skills to work, chanting the license number.

"The coach just said it and we were saying it over and over, and then it just turned into a big chant since we kept repeating it," said Kimmie Ostrowski, a senior captain for the team who also appeared on "Today."

According to police reports, a truck hit a car stopped at a traffic light Wednesday, and the impact forced that car into another vehicle, which then hit another one.

The truck driver, found at his home, told officers he didn't think the damage was severe enough to stop, police Lt. Mike Logghe told The Ann Arbor News.

The man wasn't arrested and his name wasn't released, but police said he could face a misdemeanor charge of leaving the scene of an accident.

BR: I'm sure that this should help these girls during Sorority Rush next year.

USM to Add New Upscale Restaurant

According to an article in today's Clarion-Ledger, the University of Southern Mississippi has many projects ongoing throughout the summer. In addition to adding a $2 million new upscale restaurant on campus, the other projects include:

$30 million R.C. Cook Union Expansion

$22.5 million Trent Lott Center for Excellence in Economic Development

$1.2 million, one-mile walking and bicycling path

$2 million, upscale restaurant, funded by food service company Aramark

$350,000 replacement of a street with a pedestrian area

USM continues the trend at most college campuses these days of making the center of campus pedestrian-friendly a while placing parking on the periphery.

Robbie Ward's article in today's Daily-Journal discusses MSU's campus and how parking will be at a premium this year with all of the ongoing construction on campus.

Drinking and Work Do Not Mix

I guess these are the type mistake that happen when your employer offers an employees' lounge at your workplace. Here's a story from CNN.com:

In April, Anheuser-Busch Co. -- based in St. Louis, Missouri -- wrote a $5,000 check intended for the state Republican Party.

Instead, the envelope was addressed to the state Democratic Party, which promptly deposited the money.

Now, state GOP leaders say the South Carolina Democratic Party needs to return the beer money they are owed.

A Good Laugh to Start Your Week

If you haven't been there before, check out the T-shirts at Bustedtees.com.

To support a Mississippi entrepreneur, check out Daville Outfitters' website. Daville Oufitters was founded by Starkville native and MSU alumnus Hossein Razzaghi, who continues to reside in Starkville.

2 Mississippi Cities in Top 100 Places to Live

Money magazine recently recognized Olive Branch and Madison in its latest Top 100 Cities in the U.S. The two Mississippi cities finished 38th and 55th respectively. This is no real surprise as Mississippi has been represented by Oxford and West Point as top locations in other publications.

Though I've never been to Moorestown, I am a little skeptical about any article that says New Jersey is the best place to live in the United States.

To see the most recent Top 100, click here.

NCAA oversteps its bounds again

NCAA puts ban on Indian mascots

Ruling applies only to teams in postseason events

	Mascots like Florida State's Chief Osceola won't be allowed in any NCAA tournaments starting after Feb. 1, 2006.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The NCAA banned the use of American Indian mascots by sports teams during its postseason tournaments, but will not prohibit them otherwise.

The NCAA's executive committee decided this week the organization did not have the authority to bar Indian mascots by individual schools, committee chairman Walter Harrison said Friday.

Nicknames or mascots deemed "hostile or abusive" would not be allowed by teams on their uniforms or other clothing beginning with any NCAA tournament after Feb. 1, said Harrison, the University of Hartford's president.

"What each institution decides to do is really its own business" outside NCAA championship events, he said.

Guidelines were not immediately available on which logos and nicknames would be considered "hostile or abusive."

The NCAA two years ago recommended that schools determine for themselves whether the Indian depictions were offensive.

Among the schools to change nicknames in recent years over such concerns were St. John's (from Redmen to Red Storm) and Marquette (from Warriors to Golden Eagles).

The NCAA plans to ban schools using Indian nicknames from hosting postseason events. Harrison said schools with such mascots that have already been selected as tournament sites would be asked to cover any offensive logos.

Such logos also would be prohibited at postseason games on cheerleader and band uniforms starting in 2008.

RT's Useless Rambings, Thoughts, and Information

For some great material for wasting time at work on a Friday, check out RT's Blog.

It's guaranteed you'll get a laugh out of his senior portrait or his coverage of Nascar, tattoos, etc.

Starkville Ramblings

My trip to Starkville yesterday allowed the opportunity to see some of the developments currently underway and to hear about future projects. MSU's campus and Starkville with both be seeing major facelifts over the next few years. Ergon Properties is building over 100 condos at the corner of Hwy. 12 and Russell Street and their website (worth the visit) shows that over 50 have been reserved. Their main competition will be the Magnolia, a 60 unit high-end condo development just across Russell Street where the Creamery stood abandoned for the last 30 years. The two projects will be complemented by a completely renovated Le Galerie shopping center without The Bar Formerly known as Cheers (Worst bar name north of Antarctica) according to Daniel Melder on Telle's Tales. A recent Starkville Daily News article states that the shopping center will be called Cotton Crossing and will a clock tower with chimes and two patio areas along with various new businesses, one of which is rumored to a Starbucks. Speaking of rumors, I'v also heard that there are plans to convert Russell Street into a boulevard at some point in the future.

On the other side of the Cotton District, Dan Camp's newest mixed-use project, Rue de la Grande Fromage, should be completed by Bulldog Bash which is on September 23rd. The Planter's Row-style development will feature 2 new eateries with condos above. Tony Thompson and Brian Kelley will open The Coffee District which will offer coffee and beignets while Robert Camp and 2 partners will own Up Your Alley, a margarita and tamale establishment. Tony Thompson is also opening a gourmet grocery and gift shop called Gourmae next to the Grill in the old Cotton District tanning salon. Along with the items on his website, Gourmae will be the grocery store for the Cotton District and will also sell an assortment of cold beer. Within walking distance will be a new restaurant in the blue building featuring Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine and owned by the famed Oda of ABC Tutoring. Also on University Drive, the Boar's Head Bar and Grill opens today in the old Blue Marlin and I think it is owned by the folks at Little Dooey. Rick's is undergoing a complete renovation which will add a jazz/piano bar on the second floor along with a huge outdoor Tiki bar and 2 sand volleyball courts. As you can see, Starkville is changing daily.

As far as MSU's campus, the Hwy. 12 entrance has been completely re-routed along with many other roads so that Five Points no longer exists. For an update on many of the current projects on campus, read this interview with MSU architect Tim Muzzi.

Mississippi State Listed Among Mississippi's Top 10 Party Schools

The son-to-be presence of cold beer has moved MSU ahead of Belhaven and Blue Mountain College in the newest AP poll. Watch out Mississppi College because your next.

I apologize that nothing was posted yesterday about the passage of cold beer but I went to the Board of Aldermen meeting on Tuesday night and was never around a computer in Starkville yesterday. But for anyone who may have been unconscious since Tuesday, the Board voted 6-1 to allow cold beer and light wines sales beginning in 30 days. I don't know about you but I'll be kicking back some light wine come Sept 3rd.

Click here for the Starkville Daily News article.

Melton Getting More than He Bargained For

Apparently, the Mayor accompanied 2 detectives to investigate an adult bookstore (and they get paid for this?) and while there found 2 men having sex in the store. In addition, sex toys, which recently found to be illegal by the Mississippi Supreme Court, were found to be present and the store was shut down.

Click here for more info on the story.

Cool Bar Opening in Downtown Hattiesburg

A developer has spent $700,000 to renovate the old Coke plant in downtown Hattiesburg and has taken a year to renovate it and do it right. The owner has said it would be similar to Hal's & Mal's and House of Blues. I think that something like this would do well in Jackson.

Click here for an article on the bar and renovation.

Poll Shows that Starkville Citizens Welcome Cold Beer

A poll taken Monday by the Starkville Daily News shows that over eighty percent of respondents favor a change in the city's beer ordinance. Polls results showed that 52 of the 62 citizens who responded, or nearly 84 percent, were in favor of cold beer sales within Starkville city limits. The Starkville Board of Aldermen vote Tuesday night on the issue at their 5:30 meeting at City Hall.

Click here for more info on the SDN poll.

Picture from Recent Fishing Trip

Chick here to a picture fom my lastest fishing expedition. It's ridiculous that they believed me when I told them I was from Glencoe.

Don't act like you've never Googled your name.

Palmeiro Tests Positive for Steroids

In an effort to avoid the Baseball Hall of Fame, former MSU baseball player Rafael Palmeiro has tested positive for steroids. As they say, if it's sounds too good to be true then it probably is: I should have known that Mississippi State's baseball program was getting too much positive attention at one time following his 3,000th hit. The effects of this positive test, combined with Jose Canseco's accusation in March, will have long and hard effects on his career (though if the effects last more than 48 hours you should see a physician).

It looks like MSU's new athletic building project, the Palmeiro Center, may go down in history with Ole Miss' Trent Lott Leadership Institute in the "maybe-we-should-have-waited-a-little-bit-longer-before-naming-a -building-after-him" category. I wonder if there's an Ebbers Hall at Mississippi College?

Click here for the article from CNNSI.com for more details.

5 More Neshoba County Fair Cabins Burn

For the first time in 116 years, a fair cabin burned in June of this year. Saturday night around midnight 5 more cabins in the newest section caught fire to bring to 6 the total of cabins burned this summer. Of the six, four of the cabins suffered fire damage while 2 were destroyed. As much damage as it is, many cabin owners are lucky that the flames were contained in the fires and that more cabins were not destroyed. The other good news for the cabin owners who lost their cabins is that they will have plenty of time to rebuild before the Fair kicks off next year, as demonstrated by the fact that the cabin that suffered fire damage in June was ready to go for last week's week-long houseparty.

For anyone who has never been to the Neshoba County Fair, you definitely should try to make the trip next year. The dates will be July 21 - July 28, 2006.

For more information on the fires click here for the article.

Google Earth: Amazing but Scary

For those of you who haven't seen Google Earth, you now have a new toy. The program allows you to look at satellite photos of most anywhere on Earth, with the ability to zoom in and see the smallest details. In zooming in at my parents house, I could tell what car was parked in the driveway when the satellite photo was taken. The high quality photos like this are only available for metropolitan areas.

According to Google Earth, The Dock is still open but don't get your hopes up because the bad news is that some of the photos have not recently been updated. However, it's still amazing the stuff that this program can do-- and with technology it will only get better. By the way, thanks to Neil Raggio for informing me about this program.

Link to Google Earth

Possible new lead in Emmett Till case

An African-American man who accompanied the white Mississippians who killed Till may be given immunity so that more information would be revealed concerning the events of Till's death. I wouldn't be surprised if Court TV was in Oxford or Greenwood to cover this trial, as they did in Philadlphia, if it occurs in the next few months.

For more information in an article from CNN.com, click here.

Welcome

Since getting a blog is apparently as important for social status as Debutante (though cheaper), I decided that I would jump on the bandwagon and contribute to the erosion of corporate efficiency in this country. I'll try not to just go off on personal rants but would rather just offer interesting news stories or anything connected to Mississippi, being single, going out, progress in any shape or form, and any other hobby that I may pick up at sometime. The 2 words to describe this site will be "cut" and "paste". I encourage everyone to reply as often as possible so that those of us at work will have something to do other than daydream. It goes without saying that smart-ass comments are welcome and expected, however any references made about Brad are completely untrue and do not refer to any actual events. Comments aimed at others should be considered fact and serve as great additions to the local gossip.

Jackson added to Craigslist

For those who can't get on facebook because you don't have a .edu address or those too cheap for match.com, there is good news. Craiglist is an online database of local forums and classified ads for 175 cities. It started in San Francisco in 1995 and Jackson was just added in June 2005.
Click here to see Craigslist Jackson. If you have time on your hands, you'll may find the casual encounters to be a very entertaining place but I will warn that this isn't something you would want to look at on your boss' computer- you never know what some of these nuts will put on there. It's intersting to me that lots of these people are looking for STD and drug free partners. Obviously these people have never heard that beggars can't be choosers. By the way, that's nots me on there at Sportman's Lodge; if you saw me there that night with denim shorts it's just a coincidence.

My favorite personal so far:
Single white male, 30, seeks divorced white female, 30s or 40s, with substantial alimony and/or family wealth. Large, tasteful house preferred. In-ground pool a must.

Cold Beer for Starkville and Oxford?

The Starkville Board of Aldermen will address the issue of allowing cold beer this Tuesday at their biweekly meeting. I have always been of the belief that alcohol does not have intoxicating effects until at least 20 to 30 minutes after it is consumed. Thus, the argument that hot beer prevents drunk driving has never flown with me. In my opinion, this issue is long overdue, though it should not be Starkville's top priority. If the beer laws are amended, old Highway 82 is revitalized, and Starkville builds a convention center, Dan Camp may go down as the most effective mayor that Mississippi State's hometown has ever seen. The first step will be decided Tuesday night before 9:00.

If Starkville allows the sale of cold beer, I predict that Oxford will follow suit within the next month. With this move, Mississippi's college towns will finally move into the twentieth century. Who knows, my great, great-grandson may see Sunday beer sales and the arrival of sports bars in these 2 cities. In reality, I've heard that Oxford may be getting a good sports bar in the near future next door to the Library. D.J. Mario may have some competition.

For more details and an explanation on why hot beer laws could be unconstitutional , click here. If anyone cares, I did read the AG's opinion [MS AG Op., Perkins (September 4, 1998)] and it was just as vague as this article.