2

10% OFF your food order when you show your Belhaven, Millsaps, UMMC or Baptist

Hospital school or employee ID. This excludes alcohol.

2 LOCATIONS OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

Happy Hour Daily 4pm-7pm & 9pm to Close

2 for 1 Margaritas99¢ Domestic Beer

Now Open in Jackson

960 N. State St Jackson MS601.398.1344

132 Port Gibson St Raymond MS601.526.9070

Tues - Thurs: 4pm to 2amSat: 6pm to 2am

Check For Special EventsHappy Hour Drink & Food Specials Daily 4-7pm

769-257-52045105 I-55 N. Frontage Rd, Jackson, MS 39206

www.ishgrillandbar.com

T H U R S D AY D E C E M B E R 3 1

PERFORMING LIVEPRESS PLAY 601 BAND

FREE PARTY FAVORSCHAMPAGNE TOAST AT MIDNIGHT

DJ PHINGAPRINT ROCKING THE ISHVIP RESERVATIONS AT

ishgrillandbar.com

YOGA TEACHER CERTIFICATION

BEGINS JAN. 8, 2016Join our 5-month Yoga Alliance accredited

yoga school (RYS 200) and become a part of the class of 2016!

With Scotta Brady, and guest instructors, Lindsay Wilson, and Lea Pickard!

Lead Instructor Scotta Brady, E-RYT 500, NASM - CPT3025 N. State Street, Jackson, MS 39216

ALL STADIUM SEATINGListings for Fri. 1/1 – Thurs. 1/7

Online Tickets, Birthday Parties, Group& Corporate Events @ www.malco.com

Movieline: 355-9311

DAILY BARGAINS UNTIL 6PM

The Hateful Eight R

Star Wars: The Force Awakens PG13

3-D Star Wars: The Force Awakens PG13

Concussion PG13

Daddy’s Home PG13

Joy PG13

Point Break PG13

3-D Point Break PG13

The Big Short R

Sisters R

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip PG

In the Heart of the Sea PG13

Krampus PG13

Creed PG13

The Good Dinosaur PG

Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 PG13

GIFT CARDSAVAILABLE

CO

URT

ESY

MIS

SISS

IPPI

BO

AR

D O

F M

ENTA

L H

EALT

H

JACKSONIAN DR. JIM HERZOG

J ackson-based clinical psychologist Dr. Jim Herzog’s work is about under-standing people’s behavior so he can help make their lives better.

“I like understanding the reasons people be-have as they do and finding ways to help people with significant psychological difficulties so they can make their lives better,” he says. “The educational component, teaching people about themselves, is one of the most significant parts of my job and the part that best helps me accomplish my goals. It’s very important to me to see people who come to me become able to take care of themselves bet-ter psychologically.” Herzog, 59, was born in Mason City, Iowa, and moved to Omaha, Neb., to attend Creighton University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1978. He entered a health-professional scholarship pro-gram with the U.S. Air Force and moved to Oxford, Miss., to continue his education at the University of Mississippi in 1979. He received his master’s and doctorate degrees in clinical psychology in 1980 and 1985, respectively. Between his studies, Herzog served as an Air Force psychologist at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, where he finished his clinical internship and residency in 1983. He settled in northeast Jackson after earning his doctorate at the University of Mississippi. This month, Gov. Phil Bryant reappoint-ed Herzog to his position as psychology repre-

sentative for the Mississippi Board of Mental Health, a position he has held for more than seven years. Herzog also served as chairman of the board for three years from 2012 to 2015. The Board of Mental Health, the gov-erning board of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, is composed of nine gover-nor-appointed members—a physician, a psy-chiatrist, a clinical psychologist, a social worker with experience in the field of mental health and one citizen representative from each of Mississippi’s five congressional districts. In his position on the board, Herzog over-sees projects that aim to improve services in the state’s clinical psychology community, includ-ing implementing better evidence-based treat-ment practices—those that integrate the best available evidence in the field with practitioner expertise and the needs, values and preferences of those who the treatment will affect. Herzog also oversees the operation of electronic health records and data collection and the clinical psy-chology department’s budget. Herzog and his wife, Angela Herzog, have also run a private practice in Highland Village called Herzog & Herzog PA since 2004. He primarily works with children who have dis-ruptive or emotional disorders. The Herzogs have two children—John, 34, and Anna, 30. Both are University of Mis-sissippi graduates with degrees in psychology. The couple also has three grandchildren—Jack, Lucy and Jane. —Dustin Cardon

DECEMBER 30, 2015 - JANUARY 5, 2016 | VOL. 14 NO. 17

4 ............................. EDITOR’S NOTE

6 ............................................ TALKS

10 ................................ EDITORIAL

11 .................................... OPINION

13 ............................ COVER STORY

20 .......................... FOOD & DRINK

22 ................................. WELLNESS

24 ....................................... 8 DAYS

25 ...................................... EVENTS

26 ....................................... MUSIC

26 ....................... MUSIC LISTINGS

27 ..................................... SPORTS

29 .................................... PUZZLES

31 ....................................... ASTRO

cover design by Kristin BrenemenC O N T E N T S

CO

URT

ESY

MSU

AT

HLE

TIC

S; C

OU

RTES

Y C

EDR

IC B

UR

NSI

DE;

IMA

NI K

HAY

YAM

.

8 The Unkindest CutsInitiative 42, which would have required full funding of public schools, failed. Nevertheless, legislative bean counters are proposing deep budget cuts in the upcoming session.

26 Burnside’s Grammy Blues“I love to play my music, period, with or without the accolades, but I’m just glad people enjoy it and understand my music. And I’m going to keep on doing it, man. It’s been a beautiful year.” —Cedric Burnside, “The Future of Feel Music”

27 A Big Year in MSU Women’s BasketballThe Lady Bulldogs’ recent streak of successes has already reached an all-time high this season.

3

4

“T his thing runs our lives,” New York Det. James Shanahan told police officers as he held up a smartphone Dec. 14 at

the new, mammoth New York Police Acad-emy in Queens, N.Y., that I always liken to Starfleet Academy during my visits there. Forty years ago, the animated Shana-han told the cops, no one could imagine the effect that marvel of “electronic circuitry” would have on people’s lives, especially the ones on both ends of police interactions with citizens. Nowadays, everyone is an amateur videographer, and police actions are under more scrutiny than ever. It doesn’t mean, though, that there are more incidents of po-lice brutality or over-policing; it means that more people can see the evidence of it now. “We have been intoxicated with bad policing in America for a long time,” Brook-lyn Borough President Eric Adams, a black former NYPD officer of 22 years, told me last May in his huge office in the next bor-ough over. “And we have refused to acknowl-edge that drunkenness. We’re being forced to do so now only because of Steve Jobs.” The “bad policing” Adams speaks of—which is ingrained into American police culture, although not a habit of all cops—is, arguably, the issue of our time. Like other vestiges of our country’s racist heritage, it is a practice not used exclusively by white officers against citizens of color, but it more often is. That is, it’s a problem for Americans of all races, and worse for black people. David Kennedy, a white criminologist at John Jay College (where I have a fellow-ship) in New York, points to decades of bad policing that has destroyed trust in black communities. He said the issue now is be-yond black and white, explaining why black officers can be guilty as well. “It’s about espe-cially black communities and police depart-ments,” he told me. It’s about legal power and how police exercise it, especially against

black people, he said, which must change. The fact that many people don’t see over-policing as a problem makes it harder to stop. Grand jurors often refuse to indict officers accused of excessive use of force re-sulting in the death of an (often black) un-armed citizen, from Eric Garner to, now, Tamir Rice. Twitter explodes with people, usually of color, outraged that officers don’t even have to face a fair trial for the deaths. Still others, often white, respond that had

fill-in-the-blank not done something wrong (like Garner selling untaxed cigarettes and begging officers not to arrest him, or 12-year-old Rice playing with a toy gun), he or she would still be alive. The latter’s logic is that police have the right to use lethal force any-time they fear a suspect, or even when one is disrespectful. That’s frightening. So is a public reaction that justifies an execution for something as mundane as selling cigarettes or saying the wrong thing to a cop. It is also jarring to learn how little train-ing most American police officers have ever gotten in anything beyond firearm use. Over the last year, I’ve been researching how police departments are trying to retrain officers to de-escalate rather than the over-reactions that can lead to fatal outcomes. I’ve spent a great deal of time in New York City because, as a city with the nation’s largest police depart-ment, it should be a laboratory for solutions for what Commissioner Bill Bratton likes to call the “divide” between cops and commu-nities of color—and for how to train officers to, first, not escalate and, instead, de-escalate

encounters whenever possible. The NYPD, like many other depart-ments, knows it has a problem with the way citizens of color have traditionally been targeted. Even Bratton will admit that it’s historic in a country where many cops tra-ditionally helped (or were) white suprema-cists. Many, including the NYPD, were established to patrol slaves. It really did take people with smartphones to get police de-partments to face that their officers are often woefully under-trained. Too many are rude to citizens, seeming to embody the idea that one who isn’t perfect deserves disrespect or even death—at least if they’re not white and live in “those” areas. Some cops call kids and adults “scumbags” or worse to their faces. Adams, the borough president, is direct that the police culture must change and that officers (and management) must stop mak-ing assumptions about poor communities based on the “numerical minority” that com-mits most of the offenses. He said many officers, in New York and beyond, discriminate in the tools they employ when trying to “correct conditions” i.e. encounter someone doing something il-legal. Officers leave the station house every morning, he says, with a packed toolbox of options for dealing with troublemakers and de-escalating confrontation, especially with non-violent, non-armed offenders. “What he has done in America is that when he goes into an area that is economi-cally challenged,” the Brooklyn borough president says of offending officers, “is he pulls out only the hammer, which is the gun, or the nightstick, or the blackjack. In other areas, he uses every item in that toolbox. He uses conflict resolution; he’ll get a family member to talk to the person; he will try to reason with the person. He’ll use every item in that toolbox in an escalating fashion.” That means that a cop is often able to arrest a white offender because he or she took

the time to use non-violent tools first or just have a respectful conversation. But when dealing with, say, an Eric Garner—a middle-aged black man who made his living in an unsavory way—“it immediately goes zero to 100,” Adams says. That means “pulling out the gun, pulling out the chokehold, throw-ing you to the ground; physical contact is immediate. Any signs of disobeying my verbal command must result in some form of punishment when, in other communi-ties, any sign of disobeying my command, I move to the next level of command.” Adams said officers probably don’t re-alize this implicit bias, especially if they get away with it with no serious punishment: “So when you have someone that is put in a chokehold for correcting the condition of selling loosey cigarettes, that’s a reflection. When you have someone shot in the back eight times like in Carolina for correcting the condition of a broken taillight, that’s a reflec-tion that is not about correcting the condi-tions the way policing should be done.” Adams said such policing is about power. “It’s about inflicting pain for some-one not doing what you said they should do,” he says. “Yet, you can go through scenarios in affluent communities where a person is armed with a gun, and the po-lice are able to use proper tactics to disarm them without hurting anyone involved.” The good news is that cops like Det. Shanahan and his partner, Lt. Mark Turner, are retraining officers, drawing them into role-plays and dialogues like I observed, us-ing hostage-negotiation techniques to help them rethink the way they interact with citi-zens, including when the dispatcher has told them a 12-year-old has a “probably fake” gun. It may be late, but they are trying. Still, Adams said, police culture is a tough ship to turn around. “It’s an ocean liner that has spent 20 years off course,” he says. But, at least, now people are noticing.

CONTRIBUTORS

A Nation ‘Intoxicated with Bad Policing’

News Editor R.L. Nave is a native Missourian who roots for St. Louis—and for Jackson. Send him news tips at rlnave@jacksonfreepress.com or call him at 601-362-6121 ext. 12. He wrote news pieces and several most intriguing blurbs.

News Reporter Arielle Dreher is working on finding some new hobbies and adopting an otter from the Jackson Zoo. Email her story ideas at ari-elle@jacksonfreepress.com. She wrote about the state bud-get and most intriguing people.

Assistant Editor Amber Helsel graduated from Ole Miss with a bachelor’s in journalism. She is short, always hungry and always thinking. She wrote a story about New Year’s Eve events in Jackson and other features.

Music Editor Micah Smith is married to a great lady, has two dog-children named Kirby and Zelda, and plays in the band Empty Atlas. Send gig info to music@jacksonfreepress.com. He wrote about musician Cedric Burnside.

Staff Photographer Imani Khayyam is an art lover and a native of Jackson. He loves to be behind the camera and capture the true essence of his subjects. He took many photos for the issue.

Advertising Director Kimberly Griffin is a fitness buff and foodie who loves chocolate and her mama. She’s also Michelle Obama’s super secret BFF, which explains the Secret Service detail.

Ad Designer Zilpha Young has dabbled in every medium she could get her hands on, from blacksmithing to crocheting. To see some of her extracurricular work, check out zilphatastic.tumblr.com. She designed ads for the issue.

Sales and Marketing Con-sultant Myron Cathey is from Senatobia. He is a graduate of Jackson State University and enjoys traveling, music and spending time with family and friends.

by Donna Ladd, Editor-in-ChiefEDITOR’S note

“It’s about inflicting pain.”

Arielle Dreher Micah Smith Imani Khayyam

5

www.msbluesmarathon.com

Register online to volunteer!presented by:

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, A Mutual Insurance Company, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.® Registered Marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an Association of Independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.

NEW EXHIBIT HATCHING JANUARY 23AT THE SCIENCE MUSEUM

F or close to eight hours every day, a tow-er crane soaring above Jackson swivels and pivots like the minute hand of a clock gone a little haywire.

The crane, which will be part of Jack-son’s skyline for at least another year, is help-ing build what promises to be the newest permanent fixture of the cityscape, a 205-room luxury hotel operated by Starwood Hotels & Resorts. After a brief snag in finding a buyer for about $9 million in bonds, the Westin is back on track to complete construction on the site of the former Mississippi Valley Title Building on Tombigbee and West streets by early 2017. Developers of the nine-story, 169,000-square-foot hotel say the project represents a renaissance for downtown and an answer to the need for more hotel beds. That, the thinking goes, will draw more and bigger conventions with attendees spreading cash around downtown and shoring up Jackson’s struggling revenue coffers. The Westin has been under construc-tion since August, but is not the only the ho-tel game in downtown. At least three other proposals are on the drawing board to add hotel rooms to downtown, but opinions vary widely about what the market in Jackson will bear. Consider that plans for the Westin call for a market-high nightly room rate of $145 per night. Discount websites like Kayak and Expedia advertise rates for the Marriott and

Hilton Jackson for $110 and $109 per night, respectively. A night at the Hilton Garden Inn, better known to locals at the King Ed-ward, runs guests about $99 per night. Leland Speed, a developer and mover-shaker, wonders whether the laws of supply and demand justify building new hotels from the ground up. “Jackson is a low-hotel-rate town. For $59, you can get a room and breakfast,” said Speed, a former investor in the now-shuttered Edison Walthall Hotel. “There’s a real question (about) what you can get for a downtown hotel room in Jackson. The busi-ness travel isn’t there any more.”

The Mississippi Business Journal re-ported in July 2015 that Jackson hotel rooms fluctuated widely since 2010, from the mid-$60 range to $76.59 in summer 2014, based on data from international travel research firm STR. The company’s analysts also pre-dicted that demand for hotel rooms expand-ing at a healthy rate.

New Convention Hotel? Such forecasts are driving the latest effort to construct a hotel across from the Jackson Convention Complex. The Jackson Rede-velopment Authority, a quasi-governmental agency that can loan money backed

Wednesday, December 23 Education policy groups back up the Mississippi Department of Educa-tion and its state superintendent by lam-basting a recent PEER committee report on the state’s new pre-kindergarten pilot program. Lakeisha Holloway, a woman from Oregon accused of intention-ally plowing her car with her 3-year-old daughter in the back seat through crowds of pedestrians on a Las Vegas Strip side-walk, appears in court on felony murder, hit-and-run and child-abuse charges.

Thursday, December 24 The National Endowment for the Humanities announces $3.6 million in grants for 21 community-based projects, including one at the University of Missis-sippi to discuss civil rights.

Friday, December 25 An airstrike near the Syrian capital kills top rebel commander Zahran Allouch, the head of the most powerful Saudi-backed insurgent group fighting against President Bashar Assad’s government.

Saturday, December 26 The Islamic State group releases a new message purportedly from its reclu-sive leader, claiming that his “caliphate” is doing well despite an unprecedented alli-ance against it and criticizing the recently announced Saudi-led Islamic military coalition against terrorism.

Sunday, December 27 Hundreds of volunteers help Holly Springs, Miss., homeowners clean up and deliver donated items to people whose homes were hit by last week’s tornado.

Monday, December 28 A grand jury declines to indict white rookie police officer Timothy Loehmann in the killing of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, a black youngster who was shot while play-ing with what turned out to be a pellet gun. Gov. Phil Bryant announces that Mississippi is seeking a federal disaster declaration for some or all of the seven counties that a tornado hit last week.

Tuesday, December 29 Jason Van Dyke, a white Chicago police officer charged with murder in the 2014 fatal shooting of black teen-ager Laquan McDonald—in which Van Dyke shot McDonald 16 times—pleads not guilty in court. Get breaking news at jfpdaily.com.

How Many Hotels Can Downtown Support?by R.L. Nave

of former Gov. Haley Barbour’s book.

Councilman De’Keither Stamps determined weren’t sufficiently purple to wear to a budget committee meeting.6

by JFP Staff

In the cover package of this issue, you’ll find a number of the “most intriguing” individuals who’ve made big waves in Jackson over the past year. Since those were taken, here are some less noteworthy topics.

LEASTINTRIGUING

A plan to refurbish one tower of the City Centre building could be a curveball for building a new convention-center hotel in downtown Jackson.

IMA

NI K

HAY

YAM

W hitney Place, a long-dor-mant and previously contro-versial development project slated for Fondren, is back in

the spotlight. On Dec. 29, Jackson City Council members voted in favor of several resolu-tions supporting a tax-increment-financing district for Whitney Place and a nearby hotel announced earlier this year. Ward 1 Council-man Ashby Foote, who attended by phone, voted against the resolutions. In his view, the City should not sacrifice any tax revenue af-ter Moody’s recent downgrade of Jackson’s bond rating, he told the Jackson Free Press. The TIF would provide $3.1 million for infrastructure upgrades to support the two projects, which represent a $60 million investment. The projects would include two hotels, totaling 203 rooms, 87,000 square feet of leasable office space and 48,000 square feet of retail space. The projects would create 250 construction jobs and 100 permanent jobs, city officials said. Jackson-based Duvall Decker Architects and Eldon Development LLC would erect one of these hotels, known as The Fondren. Roy Decker, one of the principals in Duvall Decker, has said the $20 million, 100-room hotel near State Street and Mitch-ell Avenue would create $227 million in spin-off economic activity and $17 million

in local tax revenues over 10 years. The TIF would help pay for parking—a surface lot for The Fondren and a garage for Whitney Place—as well as sewer and drain-age upgrades for The Fondren and Whitney Place. Foote said he supports development in Fondren and around the city, but believes the city should try to collect all the tax revenue it can while battling a budget deficit and em-ployee furloughs. “If we were flush, and everything

were going great, it would be a differ-ent issue,” Foote said. “But when you’re scrambling, I have a problem turning over sales tax to developers.” Whitney Place also proposes a hotel from developers Sunny Desai and Jason Watkins. In 2014, Desai announced plans for a boutique-style Hampton Inn near the corner of Duling Avenue and Old Canton Road, but he later withdrew those plans. The original Whitney Place, an-

nounced in 2010, was planned as a $80-million mixed-use development for Fondren that would replace buildings on State Street known as The Strip, built in the 1930s. Those plans—from David Watkins Sr., who helped redevelop the King Edward and Stan-dard Life downtown—met opposition from locals and historic preservationists. Watkins Sr. told the Jackson Free Press that he is not involved with the new development, which is still named after his late daughter-in-law, and referred questions to son Jason Watkins, who did not respond to emails by press time. Both projects also plan to apply for a rebate program through the Mississippi De-velopment Authority, which rebates a por-tion of sales tax generated by tourism-related developments. Christiana Sugg, an attorney with Gouras & Associates and a consultant on both projects, said combining the proj-ects under one TIF would save the city time and money by doing one bond issue instead of two, which would increase closing costs and attorneys fees. Decker said The Fondren is in the final stages of putting the financing package in place, which includes using the state historic tax credit program, which ran out of money, but that the Legislature may consider reau-thorizing in the coming legislative session. Comment at jfp.ms/news. Email R.L. Nave at rlnave@jacksonfreepress.com.

IMA

NI K

HAY

YAM

.

Roy Decker (right), a principal with Duvall Decker Architects, hopes to help develop one of two new hotels in Fondren, working with developers of Whitney

with the City of Jackson’s credit and helped redevelop the King Edward and build the convention center, put out a request for proposals for a convention-center hotel in June 2015. Two joint-venture firms responded: Herndon, Va.-based based Red Leaf LLC working with Advanced Technology Build-ing Solutions LLC, which is headquartered in Jackson. The other is Atlanta-based En-gineering Design Technologies Inc, which is working with Jackson-based Mississippi Developers LLC. Both proposals call for an eight-story, 304-room hotel totaling 236,070 gross square feet. Food and beverage space, which includes a restaurant and bar, total 4,140 square feet in both proposals. Don Hewitt, a developer and princi-pal with ATBS, won a $600,000 judgment against the City of Jackson for a civil-rights violation before a judge dismissed the award in January. Hewitt also unsuccessfully filed a lawsuit to block the sale of bonds for the Westin project, arguing that it is illegal for

public money to flow into the hands of pri-vate developers. Besides providing needed hotel space, Hewitt believes his team’s proposal, which would also solicit Starwood to operate the hotel as a Sheraton or Crowne Plaza, would also create jobs and use Jackson vendors for construction supplies and furnishings. “We know the Jackson market is hurt-ing for jobs,” Hewitt said. “There’s a lot of opportunity to create jobs here, to keep peo-ple locally employed.” Mitzi Bickers, a representative with Mississippi Developers, told the Jackson Free Press on Dec. 28 that she would have an EDT representative call a reporter later in the day. Follow-up calls to Bickers on Dec. 29 went straight to voicemail.

‘Best Driver for Growth’ The quest for a convention-center hotel has taken a number of bizarre—and, for city officials, frustrating—turns in recent years. In 2006, a Dallas-based company called

TCI, connected to controversial business-man Gene Phillips, formed a local limited-liability company to purchase property locat-ed between Pearl, Mill and Pascagoula streets in downtown Jackson for $1.5 million with the blessing of then-Mayor Frank Melton. Those plans called for two hotels as well as residential, retail and office space, but nev-er materialized and the city reacquired the land back in 2013 after lengthy negotiations with TCI. Mayors Harvey Johnson Jr. and late Mayor Chokwe Lumumba also sought hotel proposals of their own, but none of those plans got off the ground, either. The JRA, which added four new board members this year, has not scheduled a vote on which proposal to green light, although developers expect the commission to act by the end of January 2016. Regardless of what happens with the JRA proposals, a third op-tion is on the horizon that backers say will make more economic sense for Jackson.Hertz Investment Group, headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif., which owns much of

the office space in downtown Jackson, has plans down the road for a 204-room hotel in the City Centre building, which sits cater-cornered from the convention center. Jim In-gram, executive vice president for Hertz, said the south tower of the two-building plaza is now empty and could be refurbished into a hotel likely without any zoning variances. “We are going to try to make ours work for the convention center hotel. But when the construction would start, I’m not at the point to say,” Ingram said. Like Leland Speed, Ingram is dubi-ous whether downtown can support a brand new hotel and said Hertz’s long-term downtown revitalization strategy is to convert 300,000 square feet of office space to other uses, including hotel rooms and residential living space. “Doubling the residential units is going to be the best driver for growth in downtown Jackson,” Ingram said. Comment at www.jfp.ms. Email R.L. Nave at rlnave@jacksonfreepress.com.

City OKs TIF for The Fondren Hotel, Whitney Placeby R.L. Nave

7

TALK | state

It’s déjà vu all over again. State agencies are bracing for deep cuts in the face of dire economic forecasts. This time, the reductions are part of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee’s spend-

ing recommendation, which will provide a starting base-line for the budget blueprint lawmakers must approve later this spring. The Legislative Budget Committee imposed more cuts in the fiscal year 2017 budget—which the upcoming Legislative session will finalize—than the current year’s budget, appropriating $37 million less than they did in fiscal-year 2016. The committee proposed a $5.67-billion general-fund budget Dec. 15 despite projec-tions that state revenue will be 1.9 percent higher than last year. The proposal suggests that the proposed budget cuts eliminated the alloca-tion of state general-fund dollars for one-time spending. These cuts are even greater than those that Rep. Herb Frierson, a key Republican budget writer from Pop-larville, warned would be necessary if the school-funding amendment Initiative 42 passed. Last fall, he threatened 7.8 percent across-the-board budget cuts if voters did not reject the citizen-driven effort to re-quire state lawmakers to follow state law on funding public schools. With 42’s failure and a bump in revenue, logic holds that any cuts should come in below the 7-per-cent threshold. Yet, the Legislative Budget Committee has recom-mended deeper cuts for certain state departments than under the 42 doomsday scenario. | Republicans say the committee’s budget proposal is just a jumping-off point and that the final numbers are likely to change before the session ends. “As we see revenues come in over the next few months, we will be better able to see how the final budget will shape up,” Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves said, praising the committee’s balanced budget in a press release. The so-called rainy-day fund—unallocated funds in the budget—totals $481 million that the proposal sug-gests can be used to address needs in the current or future years’ budgets but does not specify which state depart-ments will benefit, if any, from the funds sitting there. Sen. Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall, is on the committee that helped put the budget proposal together this year. He said the committee tried to spread the cuts evenly but were obligated in certain instances—such as raises for judges and Mississippi Highway Patrol employees—by previous legislation that require pay increases. The Jackson Free Press compared the committee’s recommendation to budget cut plans obtained via a pub-lic records request. House Appropriations Committee chairman Rep. Herb Frierson asked state departments to submit the plans in July in possible preparation for the

passage of Initiative 42 and, some argue, as a political move against 42. The documents reflected how a 7.8 per-cent cut would affect each department’s operations and which areas of their own budgets they could slash in the event Initiative 42 became law. Some departments are looking at much higher cuts than 7.8 percent; here are the departments taking the biggest hits.

ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICEProposed Fiscal-Year 2017 cut: 31.36 percent

The proposed budget cuts 31 percent of funding, or

about $3.9 million, from the budget of the office of state Attorney General Jim Hood, the only Democrat elected to statewide office. In a letter to the Legislative Budget office in July, the attorney general’s office said it had been shorted $760,400 so far in fiscal-year 2016 and had to subsidize “by using special funds that have been set-aside and reserved to meet our Federal matching requirements.” The attorney general’s office receives no additional state general funds, according to the letter—except in Medicaid fraud cases. In the case of a 7.8-percent proposed budget cut, the office of the attorney general planned to subsidize costs to avoid personnel cuts. Its July letter said, “We will have to request an increase in Special Fund Spending Authority in order to avoid staff terminations, lay-offs and/or furloughs.” A larger cut may give the office no choice.

JUDICIAL PERFORMANCE COMMISSIONProposed Fiscal-Year 2017 cut: 15.8 percent

The Mississippi Commission on Judicial Perfor-mance, which enforces judicial conduct and provides over-sight of the judiciary branch of government in the state, has taken several hard budget cuts previously. In fiscal-year 2015, the division was unable to fill a regular staff position, had to resign its only administrative worker and operate at

60 percent of personnel, according to the department’s let-ter. Their staff is so strained currently, that even a 7.8 per-cent cut, which only amounts to $26,000, would leave the commission “unable to meet the constitutional mandate to enforce the standards of judicial conduct,” like holding courts to federal and ethical standards. With the Legisla-ture adding more trial judges, the commission’s role would need to grow—if that’s possible.

DEPARTMENT OF AUDIT (THE AUDITOR’S OFFICE)Proposed Fiscal-Year 2017 cut: 12.58 percent

With a 12-percent cut, em-ployees might lose their jobs in the auditor’s office as well as audit fees in-creased. The July budget request let-ter says a 7.8-percent cut would result in 10 employees separated, raising the audit fee and decreasing audit-ing time and hours. Additionally, the office might not be able to perform “State Single Audits” as mandated by the federal government to ensure that federal funds are being used properly within several state departments and would have to pass those responsibili-ties to private firms that their letter states would cost much more.

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

Proposed Fiscal-Year 2017 cut: 31.6 percent

Kevin J. Upchurch, the exec-utive director of the Department of Finance and Administration, called a 7.8-percent budget cut “catastrophic” in his letter to the Legislative Budget

Committee. The department has suffered cuts or stayed the same for the past 15 years, and more cuts have to come from the salary and fringe-benefit category, its letter states. A 7.8-percent cost would mean a loss of 13 to 26 positions depending on which fiscal year the cut was taken in. The impact, Upchurch wrote, “won’t be only to DFA, but will be to all of state government because most all of what DFA does is to provide the basic and critical services that keep government up and running.”

DEPARTMENT OF REVENUEProposed Fiscal-Year 2017 cut: 15.53 percent

The Department of Revenue sits in an interest-ing cross-section of “agency that needs money” as well as “agency that handles money.” Ninety-eight percent of the general funds run through the Department of Revenue, but as its July budget cut letter states, the agency’s perfor-mance is directly related to its funding. Ed Morgan, com-missioner of revenue, wrote that “the impact of cutting the DOR will make the state’s budget problems worse.” The department outlines several areas where 7.8 percent cuts could be made, but either way, the results could be disastrous, it argues. One option outlined suggests a 23-day furlough for all employees that would result in

Proposed Budgets Slashed Even Without 42’s Passage

by Arielle Dreher

IMA

NI K

HAY

YAM

In July, top Republican leaders, including House Appropriations Committee Rep. Herb Frierson (center), asked all state departments to submit 7.8-percent budget-cut proposals in case Initiative 42 passes, but some departments might have to cut their budgets by much more than 7.8 percent in the next year.

8

TALK | state

B efore 2016 is finished, every major instrument of the Mississippi Demo-cratic establishment will have new leadership.

Rickey Cole, the state party chairman and executive director, has said he won’t run again when his four-year term expires in July. Bogue Chitto Rep. Bobby Moak, who leads the Democrats in the Mississippi House of Representatives, was defeated in his Novem-ber re-election bid, meaning the caucus will have to appoint a new minority leader next session. The Legislative Black Cau-cus, which comprises a majority of Democrats in the statehouse, recently named Jackson Rep. Earle Banks as its chairman to replace state Sen. Kenneth Jones, of Can-ton, who also fell in defeat. Finally, the four-year-old Mississippi Dem-ocratic Trust will also come under new leadership on Jan 1. The flurry of changes present the question of whether the state Democratic Party is in shambles or if the stars are finally aligning for it. “I personally think this is a positive thing and a sign of matu-rity,” said Brandon Jones, a former legislator who started the organiza-tion in 2011 to provide air support for Democratic candidates in terms of fundraising, communications and policy development. Jones said that stepping aside is the grown-up thing to do because he never planned to be in charge of the Democratic Trust forever. The organization, he said, needs fresh, high-energy leadership with new ideas who possess the technical expertise to execute modern data-driven political campaigns. So on Jan. 1, he will step down and hand the reins over to David McDowell, a longtime campaign worker who is relocating to Jackson from Oxford to take Jones’ place as executive director. Will Godfrey, another Democratic campaign operative, will serve as finance di-rector for the group. The Mississippi Democratic Trust fo-cused the 2015 election cycle on recruiting Democrats to run in key races in hopes of winning back the state House from Republi-cans. The campaign succeeded in picking off one GOP incumbent, Brad Mayo of Oxford, but losses by Moak and Rep. Sherra Lane of Waynesboro bought Republicans within one vote a supermajority, which would allow the Republicans to run roughshod over money bills with no input from the minority party. Legislative stumbles aside, this was also the year that Robert Gray, a political un-

known, wrested the gubernatorial nomina-tion away from better-positioned candidates in Vicki Slater and Valerie Short, which prompted murmurs in and outside the party that for all intents and purposes Democrats in Mississippi are fatally wounded. “Two-thousand fifteen was a disap-pointing year—I don’t think anyone would argue with that—for the Democratic Party in Mississippi,” said McDowell, a Slidell, La.,

native. However, he and Jones point to the trust’s success in municipal elections in 2013, when Democrats beat off aggressive Republi-can challenges to retain several mayoral seats and picked up a few more. McDowell said he is not sure where the organization will focus its efforts in the near term. As a state politi-cal action committee, the group does not get involved in federal elections; it’s also possible that it helps on some judicial races, which are officially nonpartisan but often draw interest from the respective parties. “We’re going to have to be standing there with our legislators and sticking up for the things we care about. There’s no more important time to stand up for the things we care about as Democrats when the Republi-cans are on their way to strong arming (the legislative process), at least in the House,” McDowell said. In the past few years, Democrats pushed for a debate and vote on Medicaid expansion, beat back attempts to impose strict documen-tation requirements for immigrants and de-bated a number anti-abortion bills to varying degrees of success. The Democrats’ agenda

for the new term remains an open question, contingent on whom the members choose for new leadership, especially in the House. Moak, the outgoing minor-ity leader, said the leadership switch-a-roo in his party isn’t as dramatic as it looks. “I don’t think you read anything into that. That’s just what happens,” Moak said of the changing of the political guard. “Any time there’s change, there’s a chance for the party to

take a step back.” Despite the decline in Demo-crats’ voting strength over the past decade, Moak points to neighbor-ing Louisiana, where Democrat John Bel Edwards bested his op-ponent in the gubernatorial race, Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter, by 12 points, as the trajectory Mis-sissippi politics could be on. Democrats’ long-term sus-tainability could hinge on the per-son selected as its next statewide chairperson. Cole served as chair-man from 2000 to 2004 and again for a four-tear term from 2012 to 2016. Cole is also executive direc-tor, running the day-to-day opera-tions of the party. Several names have surfaced as possible successors, including Moak, attorney and former Demo-cratic gubernatorial candidate Vicki Slater and Jackson Ward 6 Council-man Tyrone Hendrix. Mike Biggs, blogging for his Mississippi Political

Pulse, first floated the idea in mid-December, writing of Hendrix, a party operative and campaign consultant: “Make no mistake, Tyrone and I have had disagreements on tactics and style in the past; at times very public. We’ve taken similar yet different paths partnering up at times along the way. … I’ve always re-spected the fact that he’s steadfast in what he sets out to do.” Hendrix said he has considered it only because he started getting inquiring phone calls after Biggs’ blog went live. But, for now, he is focused on representing his south Jack-son ward on the city council, he said. “I would like to see the leadership of the party start to be representative of the Demo-cratic Party and Democratic voters in the state,” Hendrix said, referring to the Missis-sippi party’s overwhelming black majority. Moak said he has not actively cam-paigned for the party chair position, but, without offering specifics, added that he is interested in keeping a toe in politics. Comment at www.jfp.ms. Email R.L. Nave at rlnave@jacksonfreepress.com.

Shakeup or Shakeout? Dem Leadership Changing by R.L. Nave

IMA

NI K

HAY

YAM

The rumor mill says Jackson Ward 6 Councilman Tyrone Hendrix could have a good shot at succeeding Rickey Cole as chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party.

9

$28.7 million loss in revenue. The alternative would be to dismiss 22 auditors and 13 revenue officers permanently. The department did outline other areas of its budget such as travel, postage, and state agency charges that could be cut or changed if need be.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND

COMMERCEProposed Fiscal-Year 2017

cut: 8.06 percent The Department of Agricul-ture and Commerce would have to eliminate state regulatory inspec-tions with a 7.8-percent budget cut, its July letter to the Legislative Budget Office stated. Those re-sponsibilities for inspections would then fall to the federal government. The department’s funding from the federal government is tied to federal dollars, however, and reducing its budget means less federal support. Lack of funding could “result in a lesser quality of motor fuel; endan-ger the welfare of agricultural com-modities and affect other vital con-sumer protection responsibilities,” Agriculture Commissioner Cindy Hyde-Smith wrote.

MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

Proposed Fiscal-Year 2017 cut: 19.58 percent

Staff cuts and business devel-opment are at stake with MDA’s budget, and its July letter said a 7.8-percent cut would result in unspeci-fied staff losses, less travel for staff to recruit businesses, and eliminating or reducing existing contracts. The department’s fiscal-year 2016 esti-mated budget is $27 million, but the Legislative Budget Committee has proposed a $21-million budget for fiscal-year 2017.

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY

Proposed Fiscal Year 2017 cut: 8.27 percent

The Department of Archives has a relatively simple budget with fixed costs on rent and salaries that make up 87 percent of its budget. A 7.8-percent cut to the department would mean the elimination of up to 16 positions in the department. In her July letter, Director Katie Blount wrote that “a cut of this size would have a significant impact on the services and programs MDAH provides to the public.” Comment at www.jfp.ms. Email Arielle Dreher at arielle@jacksonfreepress.com.

Show Leadership, Not ‘Randomness’

T his week, Associated Press writer Emily Pettus aptly noted: “In a few weeks, the Mississippi Legislature will work itself into a lather about something. Nobody

right now really knows what the topic will be. It could be abortion, gun rights or gay mar-riage. It could be the state fl ag or Syrian refu-gees. It could be something trumped up by one or more of the presidential candidates.” Every session, it seems, something President Barack Obama has said or didn’t say whips Re-publicans under our dome into a froth. Without a doubt, the Donald Trump caucus is bound to get its hairpiece into a bunch about something or another. Granted, much of politics—and even gov-ernance, to some degree—is theater, and ral-lying around controversial issues can be a way to invigorate debate and, ideally, possibly bring forth compromise on public policy. That said, we hope to see more real leader-ship than jockeying in the coming year. Our state’s challenges are no secret, and we hope our lawmakers refrain from using the fi rst session of a new term for settling scores and wading in time-wasting wedge issues. As disap-pointed as we often are in our elected leaders, we are also confi dent that the will and resources exist to do some good. While Mississippi’s citizens might be dis-proportionately poor and our unemployment rate high, we are not saddled by the massive

debt loads seen in some states. Plus, we’ll credit Republicans for building up the rainy-day fund. Now, it’s time to recognize the torrent of problems we face. We would give similar advice to local gov-ernment offi cials. As far as the City of Jackson is concerned, we insist that the next 12 months not devolve into competing auditions for the mayor’s chair in 2017 and instead focus like a laser on water and sewer infrastructure fi xes. On Wednesday, Dec. 30, Hinds County will swear in several new supervisors, a new sheriff, and a new circuit clerk as well as several incumbents who won re-election. This is an opportunity to make progress on getting the county jail under control and doing whatever it takes to keep the detention center out of the headlines. The Board of Su-pervisors, Sheriff-elect Victor Mason and Dis-trict Attorney Robert S. Smith, who will likely be faced with a federal consent decree to ad-dress human-rights concerns at the Raymond jail, have a real opportunity to implement pro-gressive reforms to the criminal-justice system. This work must be approached strategi-cally, not scattershot and politically motivated. We’ve had it up to here with wedge issues and red-meat baiting in recent years. We want to see real leadership. We also expect to see results. We look for-ward to seeing what our leaders come up to re-spond to the challenges that face us.

Email letters and opinion to letters@jacksonfreepress.com, fax to 601-510-9019 or mail to 125 South Congress St., Suite 1324, Jackson, Mississippi 39201. Include daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for length and clarity, as well as factchecked.

Aching for Tamir, Fearing for My Life

W hen the news broke of no indictment against the offi cer in the Tamir Rice case on Dec. 28, I wasn’t shocked or surprised. I was disappointed, I ached for Tamir’s family, but mostly, I was afraid for my own. Too often, I’ve followed cases like these to fi nd that

in the end, the answer that seems most obvious isn’t the one that juries reach. To hear that an offi cer killed a 12-year-old and then wasn’t charged with anything rattles me in a way that I’ve never thought to worry about before I started paying attention to national news. I’m 22 years old, but I’m afraid to have children. It’s not the physical act of labor that’s terrifying, nor the debt of raising a child—doctor’s visits, sports, college tuition. It’s the fact that once I give birth to my child, his or her black body isn’t their own, yet he or she will bear the weight of every black soul in America. For my birthday, a friend of mine gave me a copy of “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates. In it, the author writes to his son: “You are a black boy, and you must be responsible for your body in a way that other boys cannot know. Indeed, you must be responsible for the worst actions of other black bodies, which, somehow, will always be assigned to you.” I remember reading these sentences again and again, crying while swing-ing in a hammock at my grandmother’s house. Those lines took me back to the grand-jury hearing in the case against Darren Wilson, the offi cer who shot down Mike Brown on Aug. 9, 2014, just four days before my 21st birthday. Then on Nov. 24, I sat in my too-small twin bed on the campus of my HBCU

and watched a prosecutor hand down a no-indictment ruling, and for the fi rst time, I knew that I was afraid. As a black female, I’ve been exposed to many aggres-sions and subtle assertions of power that felt like direct disrespect to who I am, such as crushes not accepting the shade of my skin or white male managers whose eyes always lingered and hands found their way to my hips repeatedly while trying to pass me during a busy lunch rush. These things, however minute, feel like assertions

of power over my black body, and while I’ve encountered an angry police offi cer, I’ve never been pulled over and felt like that day was my last. Sandra Bland wasn’t that lucky. This commodifi cation of black bodies is as old as America, and just about every day, I’m reminded of how much my black body is worth. It pained me to watch the video of an offi cer slinging a 15-year old-girl to the ground at a pool party in Texas because a white woman felt like the girl didn’t belong in her space. I was in tears at the video of the South Carolina high school student thrown like a rag doll across the classroom. Schools are supposed to be safe spaces for children, and while that case ended up being more about the offi cer’s anger issues than her race, it still hurts to think about it. Nearly every problem in this country—racism, classism, sexism—is about power. How am I supposed to tell a child that my future husband and I will raise in love that he or she will be seen as less than in the eyes of non-black counterparts? I may be young, but the thought of my child being reduced to his or her physical appearance sends my heart racing. I’ve seen far too many cases with mountains of evidence against the abuser, attacker or murderer, and yet, in nearly all of them, the one oppressed, especially if black, is on trial. In three seconds, Tamir Rice was shot. Bettie Jones and Quintonio LeGrier were shot simply opening the door after the offi cers were called to their home for help. It’s painful to think that it could be my mother receiving that phone call, planning a funeral, organizing rallies. It’s frustrating to think that one day, that may be me. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed more injustices that my young eyes didn’t think were important. I’m trying to learn to navigate through this world with-out being buried beneath fear, but the more I hear about police brutality, abuse of power and privilege going unchecked, it feels like the world is resistant to change. All I can do is pray for my generation and generations after me and hope that, one day, black bodies won’t bear the brunt of this unrelenting hatred. So far, I’m not convinced.

I’m 22 years old, but I’m afraid to have children.

10

OXFORD – When I take a peek into 2016, I’m sometimes not sure whether to get depressed or elated.On the down side is the presiden-

tial campaign, with Donald Trump and the other Republican wannabes one-upping each other on how they’re ready to go mano a mano with Vladimir Putin, build a mile-high wall between the United States and Mexico, ban Syrian refugees and their fami-lies from entering the country, and bury the memory of Barack Obama forever. Here in Mississippi, Republican Gov. Phil Bryant and the three-fifths Republican majorities in both houses of the state will assume untold power to continue underfunding education, highways, and other state needs while looking for ways to fatten the wallets of their cor-porate sponsors. Repub-licans need to keep their constituents pre-occupied with a scapegoat, prefer-ably dark-skinned, while they accomplish the further corporatization of nation and state. Many Democrats are in on the deal, but others do try their best to expose this ruse. The problem is they can’t shout louder than Fox News. “Democrats should demand that Tea Party rebels explain why they are in league with a party that intends to cut Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security in order to finance more tax cuts for billionaires,” jour-nalist William Greider wrote in The Nation. “If common folks ever understand the cor-rupt nature of the Republican coalition, we will see a popular rebellion that makes the present chaos look like, well, a tea party.” The reason Mississippi doesn’t already have an Arizona- or Alabama-style anti-im-migrant law is the hard work of the Missis-sippi Immigrants Rights Alliance in coalition with other progressive legislators. However, MIRA Executive Director Bill Chandler and the organization’s other activists are worried. “It will be a dangerous, unpredictable time for immigrant and worker rights,” MIRA said in a release about the upcom-ing legislative session. “With Republicans holding an overwhelming majority in both sides of the Legislature, they will be almost unstoppable. On the national political stage, candidates in both parties are spreading xe-nophobic, discriminatory messages, which is stoking the fires here in Mississippi.” Still, I’ve got some reasons for cheer in the coming year. Nearly three-fourths of the skilled trades workers—71 percent—at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., recently voted to join the United

Auto Workers. The victory sent shock waves across the corporate South, where CEOs like Nissan’s Carlos Ghosn thought he’d found non-union heaven, and anti-worker politi-cians like Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., thought their Valentine’s Day 2014 demagoguery in the UAW’s previous Chattanooga election nailed the union’s coffin shut. I keep telling my pessimism-prone labor friends that they’ve got to keep a long view and remember that labor was

on its knees once be-fore—the 1920s—just prior to its historic rise to become a major force in American society. In another shock to southern conserva-tives, Louisiana state Rep. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, defeated conservative Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter in that state’s Nov. 21 gu-bernatorial race. Edwards won by 12 percent over the scandal-ridden Vitter,

becoming the only Democratic governor in the once solidly Democratic Deep South. Edwards, conservative on some social issues, is a progressive populist on economic issues. His message resonated with voters sick of Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal’s disastrous leadership, which endangered education and health care while he sought the limelight as a presidential candidate. Edwards pledged to expand Medicaid, support schools and roll back government giveaways to corporations in an effort to secure greater tax fairness. Closer to home, 80 percent of Laurel firefighters joined a reorganized Local 207 of the Laurel Firefighters Association. Char-tered in 1919 as part of the International As-sociation of Firefighters, the union endeared itself to the community not only for its sup-port of its members’ safety and good work-ing conditions but also for its Christmas toy drive. After a decline in membership, new life has been breathed into Local 207. You may remember another story out of Laurel this column has followed closely: worker unrest at Howard Industries, benefi-ciary of more than $60 million in state and local largesse and site of the nation’s largest raid on undocumented workers in history. Workers at this pampered company earn just 61 percent of what their counterparts earn at a similar plant in Crystal Springs. Seeing voters in Louisiana and workers in Mississippi and Tennessee finally stand up to the political and corporate fog machine and assert their rights gives me hope for 2016. Challenges lie ahead, but I’m doing what I can to spread the good news.

Seeing Hope in Hard Times

JOE ATKINS

Editor-in-Chief Donna LaddPublisher Todd Stauffer

EDITORIAL

News Editor R.L. NaveAssistant Editor Amber Helsel

Reporter Arielle DreherJFP Daily Editor Dustin Cardon

Music Editor Micah Smith Events Listings Editor Latasha Willis

Editorial Assistants Maya Miller, Adria Walker

Writers Bryan Flynn, Brian Gordon, Shameka Hamilton, Genevieve Legacy,

LaTonya Miller, Jordan Morrow, Greg Pigott, Julie Skipper,

Consulting Editor JoAnne Prichard Morris

ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY

Art Director Kristin BrenemenAdvertising Designer Zilpha YoungStaff Photographer Imani Khayyam

ADVERTISING SALES

Advertising Director Kimberly GriffinSales and Marketing Consultant

Myron CatheySales Assistant Mary Osborne

BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS

Distribution Manager Richard Laswell Distribution Raymond Carmeans, Clint Dear,

Michael McDonald, Craig Moore, Ruby ParksBookkeeper Melanie Collins

Assistant to the CEO Inga-Lill SjostromOperations Consultant David Joseph

ONLINE

Web Editor Dustin CardonWeb Designer Montroe Headd

CONTACT US:

Letters letters@jacksonfreepress.comEditorial editor@jacksonfreepress.comQueries submissions@jacksonfreepress.comListings events@jacksonfreepress.comAdvertising ads@jacksonfreepress.comPublisher todd@jacksonfreepress.comNews tips news@jacksonfreepress.comFashion style@jacksonfreepress.com

Jackson Free Press125 South Congress Street, Suite 1324

Jackson, Mississippi 39201Editorial (601) 362-6121Sales (601) 362-6121Fax (601) 510-9019

Daily updates at jacksonfreepress.com

The Jackson Free Press is the city’s award-winning, locally owned newsweekly, with 17,000 copies distributed in and around the Jackson met-ropolitan area every Wednesday. The Jackson Free Press is free for pick-up by readers; one copy per person, please. First-class subscriptions are available for $100 per year for postage and handling. The Jackson Free Press welcomes thoughtful opinions. The views expressed in this newspaper are not necessarily those of the publisher or man-agement of Jackson Free Press Inc.

© Copyright 2015 Jackson Free Press Inc. All Rights Reserved

Challenges lie ahead,

but I’m doing what I can to

spread the good news.

11

SERVICES

COMING SOON!!!PRE-PAID CABLE

We have all colors & ages

If you are interested in fostering somekittens please call

Kaarlon Mann

601-259-4254

707 N Congress St., Jackson | 601-353-1180

Wishing y’all a safe and prosperous 2016

OPEN New Year’s Eve

CLOSED New Year’s Day

12

This HolidayBe the Designated Driver.

Health insurance for you and your family.

Ambetter.MagnoliaHealthPlan.com

BETTER IS:

December 15 is the deadline to ensure your coverage starts January 1, 2016.

MH-046-Ambetter_BETTERIS_4.5x5.875.indd 1 11/23/15 4:12 PM

University Wellness Center has been nominated Best of Jackson for 2016. Come see why.

!"###$"%&&'#$(

)

)*))*))*)

Chris Epps Somehow, Chris Epps managed to work his way up through the rank and fi le of the Mississippi Department of Correc-tions to have a Democratic governor ap-point him as commissioner and last through three terms of Republican governors. Then, somehow, he managed to screw it all up by getting involved with a scandal that ended in his pleading guilty to federal corruption charges in February 2015. The charging documents allege that Epps convinced prospective vendors to hire a Rankin County political player named

Cecil McCrory as a consultant. When the vendors won the bids, McCrory would kickback some of the cash to Epps. Neither Epps nor McCrory, who together were charged for 49 crimes, have been sentenced. However, the cor-ruption scandal prompted Gov. Phil Bryant to convene a special task force to examine procurement at MDOC, and several other changes at the state prison system have also followed. — R.L. Nave

Tony Yarber As Mayor and Pastor Tony Yarber prepared to de-liver a Christmas Eve message via Periscope from his mom’s kitchen this year, the sound of Mama Yarber’s cake mixer could be heard just off camera. Like mother, like son, Mayor Yarber never seems to stop mov-ing. This is evidenced by the fact that it’s not uncommon for the mayor to sport sneakers with his

suits or by his regular excursions out of town for conferences and to drum up support for Jackson on Capitol Hill. In his fi rst full year as Jackson’s chief executive offi cer, Yarber has endured and addressed rumors that he is a target of possible corruption probe (he has denied this), navigated a fi scal defi cit that led to employee furloughs (he and the city council worked out a deal to stave off property-tax hikes), infrastructure emergencies and good bit of political scrutiny for all of it. However, Yarber would argue that his administration closed 2015 on some high notes, including his promises to start work on projects from the 1-percent sales-tax fund, the Jackson Police Department’s reports of a reduction in crime from last year and the announcement of sever-al new initiatives to encourage property ownership in Jackson. — R.L. Nave

FILE

PH

OTO

/ T

RIP

BU

RN

S

IMA

NI K

HAY

YAM

Adrienne Domnick If artists such as Adrienne Domnick have anything to say about it, pop art won’t be remem-bered as an art style from the 1960s. She brings a modern element to it with her high-contrast paintings of fi gures in pop culture, such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and musician Ray Charles. Be-sides painting, she also works at Pearl River Glass as a glass artist and does photography. This year, her art was featured in many events around town, such as the Mississippi Museum of Art’s Museum After Hours in August, and she also has pieces up at Offbeat in midtown. But be-sides her art, the Jackson native is also working to make her neighborhood, midtown, a little better. She opened her studio in midtown in 2012. She is currently the president of the neighborhood’s business association, Made in Midtown. Artists like her are helping to create a strong community in midtown and by extension, Jackson. —Amber Helsel

CO

URT

ESY

AD

RIE

NN

E D

OM

NIC

K

Dr. Carey Wright Anyone who attended the Legisla-tive Budget Committee hearings knows that state Superintendent Carey Wright can weather a storm—and weather it well. Drilled with several questions about the department’s $2.8 billion budget request, the state superintendent was able to stand her ground and defend the department’s request-ed budget increase. Since her appointment in 2014, Wright has initiated and continued to improve several programs, including the third-grade reading gate and pre-K collab-oratives, updated state testing standards, and

continued to ask the Legislature for necessary and increased funding to help support the majority of the state’s children who attend public schools. Wright, so far, has remained optimistic yet realistic about the speed of progress in the state. This year, she acknowledged low test scores on the consortia exams that students took for the fi rst time, with the understanding that students will continue to be exposed to such high standards when they take the fi rst round of state-devel-oped assessments in 2016. The assessments are supposed to be in line with rigorous standards she has already exposed students to, and she expects scores and student progress to improve over time. — Arielle Dreher

IMA

NI K

HAY

YAM

13

14

!"#$%&'())*#"+,&'(--./.&(00.1%&.2*3-&.$*43+"(#&3#$&.)5-(,).#+&(55(1+*#"+".%&3#$&$(.%&#(+&$"%41")"#3+.&(#&+6.&73%"%&(0&134.8&4(-(18&#3+"(#3-&(1"/"#8&1.-"/"(#8&%.98&3/.8&$"%37"-"+,&(1&:.+.13#&%+3+*%&"#&"+%&51(/13)%&3#$&34+":"+".%;&<6.&0(--(="#/&5.1%(#&63%&7..#&$.%"/#3+.$&+(&63#$-.&"#2*"1".%&1./31$"#/&+6.&#(#>$"%41")"#3+"(#&5(-"4".%?&@1;&@.713&A3,%>B34C%(#8&D"4.&E1.%"$.#+&0(1&+6.&F+"43&3#$&D"4C%7*1/>G311.#&'3)5*%.%&3#$&H$)"#"%+13+":.&I.1:"4.%8&JKLMN&!=,;&LO8&F+"438&AI&JPLMNQ&RSL;OON;MSST;

!"#$%&"!'()*!"#$%&'()*++$(,%'-)../($&0'-)11"#"

,-./012'''$'''#-2/32'''$'''#-45126'''$'''783.-'''$'''93./0:;<=

1.800.HINDSCCwww.hindscc.edu

!><32='.?-00@0':@=32',-2A'**

A!ordable Academics.

Convenient Locations.

!"#$%&'()*+&,"-&%.* /

For more details, visithub.hindscc.edu/spring2016

FREE TAX SERVICE

Dial 2-1-1 (or 866-472-8265) or go to MyUnitedWay.com to connect with a volunteer tax preparer.

Our IRS-certified volunteer preparers can file your taxes free.

If your household income was less than $54,000, you may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit.

YOU KEEP YOUR ENTIRE TAX REFUND!

Self-file for free at MyFreeTaxes.com/jackson

In partnership with the IRS and the Jackson Asset Building Coalition

SERMON SERIESJANUARY 2016

!!!"#$%&'()*&(+,-.*"/%0

!"#$%&'()$&*+',*&"-+$%&'!"(#!"12223/4,3#5*(/*3%,"363-5#7'/*839'3:;<==36312=>;?1>1;@A3

DAYBREAK'

THE BRIDGETRADITIONS

Robert Gray Remember when Ross Perot’s running mate, Admiral James Stockton, opened a 1992 vice presidential debate by positing, “Who am I? Why am I here?” Gubernatorial candidate Robert Gray’s political debut was strikingly similar. Gray, who grew up in Jackson and Terry, led a quiet life as a long-haul truck driver before submit-ting his name as a Democratic candidate for gover-nor, even if hauling a truck full of sweet potatoes and other errands eventually kept him voting for himself. Gray shocked the political world, the Democratic establishment, and even his own mom by besting two women who went through the trouble of as-sembling campaign staffs and going on the stump to be the Democratic standard bearer against in-cumbent Gov. Phil Bryant. After he won the nom-

ination, Gray got serious and brought on his kid sister, Angela, to manage the campaign and started showing up to events to drum up support for his candidacy. In the end, the power of incumbency in a Republican strong-hold like Mississippi was too much for Gray to overcome. At the very least, though, he’ll have quite a story to share with buddies at truck stops for the rest of his life. — R.L. Nave

Carlton Reeves Perhaps it should come as no surprise that U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves—only the second African American federal judge in Mississippi history, whom President Barack Obama appointed early in his fi rst term—would end up be-ing one of the most progressive judges on the federal bench. In late 2014, Reeves struck down Mississippi’s same-sex marriage as unconstitutional. Early this year, the statement he read to three of the white men charged with killing James Craig Anderson before he sentenced them was chill-ing and beautiful that National Public Radio published it in its entirety. Late this year, Reeves ruled that Mississippi

must continue operating under a consent decree for one of its privately run prisons. “The protection of prisoner rights greatly impacts prison-ers, the prison staff in charge of overseeing the prison facility and even those who may visit the facility. And we cannot over-look the impact the treatment of prisoners has on the rest of society,” Reeves wrote in the order. Make no mistake: Reeves isn’t some a tree-hugging, soft-on-crime liberal jurist. At the aforementioned hearing on prison conditions, which took place on Good Friday, after a recess he threatened to throw anyone in jail whose cell phone rang in his courtroom. Pretty sure he was only half-serious. — R.L. Nave

Corinthian Washington People love a good controversy, and this year, show promoter Corinthian Washington provided two for the Jackson music scene in a small window of time. First, there was the Fondren’s First Thursday fi asco in September, which revolved around unauthorized rappers taking the stage and delivering vulgar lyrics at a hip-hop show-case that Washington organized. As a result, FFT founder Ron Chane said he would no longer allow hip-hop at the monthly event. Then, in November, Washington an-nounced that his inaugural 3rd Eye Music Fes-

tival had to fi nd a new venue, despite the City originally approving the use of Fondren Park. Theories differed as to the reason behind the City’s reversal, but Washington said in an interview with JFP that he felt it was because the event featured hip-hop and would bring a predominately young, black audience. Both times, Washington and the other parties resolved their issues. Chane said he quickly realized that leaving out local hip-hop artists “would be a disservice to the community,” and Washington, the City and the Jackson Police Department came to an agreement and placed 3rd Eye back in Fondren Park. Ultimately, these resulted in positive changes, but here’s hoping for Washington having a smoother route to them in 2016. — Micah Smith

CO

URT

ESY

CO

RIN

TH

IAN

WA

SHIN

GTO

NIM

AN

I KH

AYYA

M

IMA

NI K

HAY

YAM

Joce Pritchett Jocelyn Pepper Pritchett had one hell of a year. In late June, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down same-sex marriage bans as unconstitutional, which meant that Pritchett’s marriage to her wife, Carla Webb, would be legal-ly recognized in the state of Mis-sissippi. This came on the heels of a 2014 lawsuit where Pritchett

and Webb challenged the legality of Mississippi’s anti-gay marriage amendment, which made it to a federal appeals court, which held off on making a ruling be-cause the court knew SCOTUS would make a decision in 2015. There was little time to celebrate because Pritchett also qualifi ed to seek the Democratic nomination for state auditor, the fi rst openly gay person to run for statewide offi ce in Mississippi. She ran a sophisticated campaign for state auditor with a strong social-media presence and regularly took her opponent, incumbent Stacey Pickering, to task on key issues. Even though Pritchett didn’t win her elec-tion, she’ll certainly go down in the history books as a Mississippi trailblazer. — R.L. Nave

IMA

NI K

HAY

YAM

15

MOST INTRIGUING PEOPLE OF 2015

Rexdale Henry The death of Rexdale Henry came at a time when Mississippi and the rest of the nation was on high alert for citizens dying in law-enforcement cus-tody. In fact, Henry was arrested and taken to the Neshoba County Jail the day after a white police offi cer killed a black man named Jonathan Sanders a couple of counties away. Henry’s case was unique because he was not only a member the Choctaw tribe, but he had also been a political candidate for a seat on the Choctaw Tribal Council from the Bogue Chitto community. Henry was arrested on July 14 for outstanding fi nes, which totaled more than $2,600 over the years.

“His fi nes shouldn’t have led to his death. It couldn’t have been that bad,” John Steele, a Henry family spokesman, told the Jackson Free Press at the time. In a bizarre twist, 16 days after Henry’s death, authorities charged his cellmate, 34-year-old Justin Schlegel, with his murder. — R.L. Nave

TW

ITT

ER

16

The Township at Colony Park I 201 Northlake Ave, Suite 107,Ridgeland, MSHighland Village I 4500 I-55N Suite 235-A Jackson, MS

start 2016 strong

Text “Repeat” to 95577 For

(Standard data rates apply.)

242 Hwy 51, Ridgeland | 601.605.9393Facebook: Repeat Street Metro Jackson Twitter: @RepeatSt | www.repeatstreet.net

380 SOUTH LAMAR STREET JACKSON, MS 601.960.1515 @MSMUSEUMART.ORG

!"##"##"$$"%!&#'&!%!"%()*

OPEN: Tuesday - Saturday 10 AM - 5 PM; Sunday noon - 5 PM The Museum Store: open during Museum hours

The Palette Café: Tuesday - Saturday 11 AM - 2 PM

CLOSED New Year’s Day

A Hull year has passed.A Hull year has passed.

Soon, the exhibition will be gone, too.

On view through January 10.Don’t miss it!

MEREDITH & JIMMY CREEKMORE

BETSY & WADE CREEKMORE

All New Hours!Monday-Thursday

7am-6pm

Friday7am-10pm

Saturday4pm-until

Sugar’s Place Downtown168 W. Griffi th St.

Jackson, MS 39201Phone: 601-352-2364

Fax: 601-352-2365www.sugarsdowntown.com

sugarsdowntown@bellsouth.net

17

!"#"$%$&'()*+$,-).$/01$/-02.34)0

#"!56775""869991:;/<%/=:,;%=1&>?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

<@-33.0$&A-BC.)=D..*$E'*4*'$F@-.GH(@C.+$:(@2.@G

CHECK THE JFP MUSIC LISTINGS FOR OUR LINEUP

Happy New Year!

We’ll be closed on 1/1 to spend time with our families.

We look forward to serving you in 2016

HAPPY HOUR$1 off all Cocktails, Wine, and BeerMONDAY-FRIDAY!11AM-2AMSATURDAY!4PM-2AM

NEW MENU

NEVER A COVER!

901!E!FORTIFICATION!STREET601-948-0055WWW.FENIANSPUB.COM

NEVER A COVER!NEVER A COVER!NEVER A COVER!WEDNESDAY!12/30!

Pub QuizWITH!ANDREW!MCLARTY THURSDAY!12/31

NYE with The Bailey

Brothers Guinness Toast to Ireland 6:00pmChampagne Toast at Midnight

FRIDAY!1/1

CLOSEDSATURDAY!1/2

BRAD BAIRDMONDAY!1/4

KARAOKE WITH!MATT!COLLETTE

TUESDAY!1/5OPEN MICWITH!BROCK!BAILEY

Visit HalandMals.com for a full menu and

concert schedule

601.948.0888200 S. Commerce St.

Downtown Jackson, MS

HalandMals.comfor a full menu and

concert scheduleVisit HalandMals.com

for a full menu and concert schedule

HalandMals.comfor a full menu and

concert schedule

OFFICIAL HOUSE VODKA

Visit HalandMals.comVisit HalandMals.comHalandMals.com

OFFICIAL HOUSE VODKA

COMING UP THURSDAY 12/31

18TH ANNUAL NEW YEAR’S EVE KRYSTAL BALL &

SIPPI CATFISH DROP

FEATURING DJ ROZZ AND NU AJC

FRIDAY 1/1CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAYS

SATURDAY 1/2CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAYS

MONDAY 1/4CENTRAL MS BLUES SOCIETY PRESENTS:

BLUE MONDAYRestaurant - 7pm - $5

TUESDAY 1/5PUB QUIZ with Jimmy Quinn

Restaurant - 7:30pm - $2 to Play

UPCOMINGFriday, January 15 2016:

Ardenland presents: Eli Young Band tickets available at www.

ardenland.net $25 advance/$30 at the door

Saturday, February 20 2016: Pell tickets available at www.thelyricoxford.com

Saturday, February 27 2016: Ardenland Presents: Strung

Like A Horse doors at 8/show at 9 tickets $8 in advance/$10 at

door available at www.ardenland.net

Tuesday, March 8 2016: CeeLo Green tickets available at www.thelyricoxford.com

Friday, April 15 2016: Ardenland Presents: Mothers doors at 8/show at 9 tickets $7 in

advance/$10 at door available at www.ardenland.net

dulinghall.comdulinghall.com

!"#$%&'()%*+%"&(,

-.$*./$%&'()%*+%"&(01

!"#$%&'()%*+%"&(02

34+"/$%&'()%*+%"&(05

!"#$%&'(!.6"+%"&(50

3+./$%&'(!.6"+%"&(2

7%8+"$%&'(!.6"+%"&(01

7%8+"$%&'(9%":4(;

Bilal Qizilbash The third weekend of Decem-ber, Bilal Qizilbash had three important things to do: see “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” complete his master’s degree in biomedical sciences from Missis-sippi College and, as he had done every weekend for nine months, take food to homeless people in Smith Park. Qizilbash (pronounced kizzle-BOSH) founded a group called R U Hungry? to provide hot meals to home-less people on Friday nights because he saw a need that social-service organiza-tions are unable to fi ll.

“For as many people who claim to love Jesus and love religion, I’ve seen some of the most unreligious behavior in regard to treating the homeless—almost like they’re a blight on society—(as opposed to) saying ‘How do we help these people a little?’ Instead of getting angry at the symptom, why don’t we go to the root cause of the problem?” Qizilbash, who is Muslim, told the JFP in December. He said he wants to formally organize R U Hungry? into a nonprofi t so that the group can apply for grants; currently, he and fellow volunteers spend $150 to $200 out of pocket on the weekly feasts. Qizilbash is also an inventor and is working on a process to mass produce juiced curly kale, which he discovered can kill cancer cells. In 2016, he will begin a master’s in business administration program at Mississippi College. — R.L. Nave

Sharon Brown The year 2015 was a revival year for the state fl ag debate. Commu-nity organizer and Jackson native Sharon Brown was one of the fi rst Mis-sissippians to take action against Ballot Initiative 54 that proposes to make the current state fl ag permanent. In response, Brown fi led Ballot Initiative 55 on Oct. 9 to remove the Confederate battle fl ag and any emblems of the Confederacy from the state fl ag permanently. Brown also helped organize the 1 Flag for All rally in October, draw-ing support from civil rights activists and politicians in a march to the Capitol, including activists from in and out of state like Myrlie Evers-Wil-liams, David Banner and South Carolina Rep. Jenny Horne (who fought to bring down the Confederate battle fl ag outside her state’s Capitol). Brown’s initiative must receive 107,000 signatures before the end of 2016 for it to go on a ballot for voters. Brown attributes her fi ght and determination to her mother’s chal-lenge to stand up and do something—despite hardships. She wants to see a state fl ag that unites Mississippians with peace, unity and love.

— Arielle Dreher

Victor Mason In a classic case of being in the right place at the right time, Victor Mason was able to benefi t from a Hinds County jail that seemed to be in the news every other day to push out the incumbent Tyrone Lewis. For his part, Ma-son started his law enforcement career with the Jackson Police Department, and worked for the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, JPD’s vice and narcotics, intelligence and youth divisions. He took a leave of absence from his job as an in-vestigator for the Mississippi Attorney General’s offi ce to run for sheriff. During his campaign, he seized on prob-lems at the Raymond Detention Center that

was not only fodder for the nightly news but also became the basis for a U.S. Department of Justice report that is likely to result in a legal settlement. Mason said he wanted to tackle youth crime by bringing back role models, telling the JFP: “Bring back guys that were in the military, that are willing to volunteer on our team. Bring back normal everyday people that can teach these people the Bible, that can teach these young people the way of life.” — R.L. Nave

IMA

NI K

HAY

YAM

IMA

NI K

HAY

YAM

IMA

NI K

HAY

YAM

Cecil Brown When Mississippi Republicans pre-dictably redid the voting boundaries after the 2010 Census and moved to eliminate white Democratic seats, Jackson Rep. Ce-cil Brown’s fate was uncertain. Brown, an education-policy wonk and former chairman of the House Edu-cation Committee, would have had an up-hill climb in running against a Republican incumbent in Rep. Bill Denny. But instead of fading into the back-ground, Brown found a new cause—the Mississippi Public Service Commission.

Brown had already retired from a 40-year career as a certifi ed public accoun-tant and money manager, which he believes will help in analyzing fi nancial deals facing the PSC, which regulates utility companies. Brown’s victory in November also gives Democrats majority control over the PSC—he joins Northern District Commissioner Brandon Presley—making it one of the only Mississippi state agencies not controlled by the GOP. — R.L. Nave

IMA

NI K

HAY

YAM

18

Patti Igoe-Bett Many pre-made pancake mixes tend to be unhealthy, with lots of preservatives, sug-ars, salts and other additives. Patti Igoe-Bett has made it her mission to fi ght back on that. Her business, MsPattiCakes, which makes healthy pancake mixes began as a way to give her grandson, who has celiac disease, pan-cakes that didn’t have all the additives. She began the business offi cially in May 2014 and now makes her products in Mississippi Cold Drip Coffee & Tea’s incubator kitchen at The Hatch in midtown. This year, busi-ness such as the Livingston Mercantile Store and Mississippi Gift Company have picked up her products. — Amber Helsel

IMA

NI K

HAY

YAM

MOST INTRIGUING PEOPLE OF 2015

In MemoriamDrake Elder, former owner of Bebop Records; Tom Freeland, attorney and blogger; Howard Jones, jazz multi-instrumentalist; B.B. King, blues musician; James “Hot Dog” Lewis, blues musician; Claude McInnis, Democratic Party leader; Patrice Moncell, soul-blues singer; Anne Moody, civil-rights ac-tivist and author; Stephanie Parker-Weaver, health and civil-rights activ-ist; Jonathan Sanders, horse trainer whose death sparked civil-rights protests; Dee Smith-Smathers, LGBT civil-rights pioneer

19

Mon. - Sat., 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Maywood Mart Shopping Center

1220 E. Northside Dr. 601-366-5676

www.mcdadeswineandspirits.comPlease Drink ResponsiblyDownload

our new app!

Toast the New Year

Happy New Year! We’ll be closed on 1/1/16 to be with our families.

We look forward to serving you in 2016!

Fax: 601-366-7122

DINE-IN OR TAKE-OUT!Sun-Thurs: 11am - 10pmFri-Sat: 11am - 11pm

WE DELIVER!Fondren / Belhaven / UMC area

WE ALSO CATER!VISIT OUR GROCERY STORE NEXT DOOR.

Party Packs and Rib Packs for

New Years Eve Go Great With

Champagne!(Turkeys should be ordered 3 days in advance and are market price.)

Get DISH!promotional prices starting at only ...

for 12 months.Not eligible with Hopper.

$19./mo.99

Call 7 days a week 8am - 11pm EST Promo Code: MBQ415

1-800-398-0901Call Now and Save 50% With qualifying packages and o!ers.

Want The Best Deal On TV & Internet?

CALL TODAY -INSTALLED TODAY!where available

Offer subject to change based on premium channel availability.

For 3 months.PREMIUM CHANNELSFREE

FREEin up to 6 rooms

SAME DAYINSTALLATION

$14./mo.95

ADD HIGH-SPEEDINTERNET

where available

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: O!ers valid through 1/13/16. and require activation of new qualifying DISH service with 24-month commitment and credit quali"cation. An Early Termination fee of $20 for each month remaining will apply if service is terminated during the "rst 24 months. All prices, fees, charges, packages, programming, features, functionality and o!ers subject to change without notice. PROGRAMMING DISCOUNT: Requires qualifying programming. Receive a discount for each of the "rst 12 months as follows: $35 per month with America’s Top 250; $30 per month with America’s Top 200; $25 per month with America’s Top 120, America’s Top 120 Plus; $15 per month with Smart Pack; $25 per month with DishLATINO Dos, DishLATINO Max; $20 per month with DishLATINO Plus; $15 per month with DishLATINO Clásico; $5 per month with DishLATINO Basico. After 12-month promotional period, then-current monthly price applies and is subject to change. You will forfeit discount in the case of a downgrade from qualifying programming or service disconnection during "rst 12 months. HD FREE FOR LIFE: Requires qualifying programming and continuous enrollment in AutoPay with Paperless Billing. Additional $10/mo. HD fee is waived for life of current account. O!er is limited to channels associated with selected programming package. Qualifying programming packages are America’s Top 120 and above, DishLATINO Plus and above. You may forfeit free HD in the case of service disconnection. PREMIUMS FREE FOR 3 MONTHS: Receive Showtime, Starz, Blockbuster @Home and Encore free for the "rst 3 months. You must maintain all four movie services during the promotional period. O!er value $132. After 3 months, then-current prices will apply unless you elect to downgrade. 6 FREE MONTHS OF PROTECTION PLAN: Receive the Protection Plan free for the "rst 6 months. O!er value $48. After 6 months, then-current price will apply unless you elect to downgrade. Change of Service fee will apply if you cancel the Protection Plan during the "rst 6 months. DIGITAL HOME ADVANTAGE: EQUIPMENT: All equipment remains the property of DISH at all times and must be returned to DISH within thirty days of account deactivation or you will be charged an unreturned equipment fee ranging from $100 to $400 per receiver. Lease Upgrade fees are not deposits and are non-refundable. Maximum of 6 leased receivers (supporting up to 6 total TVs) per account. You will be charged a monthly equipment rental fee for each receiver beyond the "rst, based on model of receiver. WHOLE-HOME HD DVR: Monthly fees: Hopper, $12; Joey, $7, Super Joey, $10; second Hopper, $12. First Hopper HD DVR receiver and up to 3 Joey receivers available for a one-time $199 Upgrade fee. $199 Upgrade fee waived at time of service activation with subscription to America’s Top 120 and above or DishLATINO Plus and above. A second Hopper HD DVR receiver is available for a one-time Upgrade fee: $49 for a Hopper, $99 for a Hopper with Sling. With a second Hopper HD DVR receiver, one additional Joey receiver is available for a one-time $99 Upgrade fee. Hopper and Joey receivers cannot be combined with any other receiver models or types. PrimeTime Anytime and AutoHop features must be enabled by customer and are subject to availability. With PrimeTime Anytime record ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC plus two channels. With addition of Super Joey record two additional channels. AutoHop feature is available at varying times, starting the day after airing, for select primetime shows on ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC recorded with PrimeTime Anytime. Recording capacity varies; 2000 hours based on SD programming. Equipment comparison based on equipment available from major TV providers as of 12/01/14. Watching live and recorded TV anywhere requires an Internet-connected, Sling-enabled DVR and compatible mobile device. On Demand availability varies based on your programming subscription. Requires Android OS 4.0 or higher to watch on an Android device and iOS 7.0 or higher to watch on iPhone or iPad. Select DVR recordings cannot be transferred. ALL OTHER RECEIVER MODELS: Lease Upgrade fee(s) will apply for select receivers, based on model and number of receivers. Monthly DVR and receiver fees may apply. Digital Home Advantage o!er is available from DISH and participating retailers for new and quali"ed former DISH residential customers in the continental United States. You must provide your Social Security Number and a valid major credit card. Participating retailers may require additional terms and conditions. The "rst month of DISH service must be paid at time of activation. Number of channels may decline. Local and state sales taxes and state reimbursement charges may apply. Where applicable, monthly equipment rental fees and programming are taxed separately. Standard Professional Installation includes typical installation of one single-dish antenna con"guration, typical hook-up of an eligible receiver con"guration and equipment testing. More complex installations may require additional fees; other installation restrictions apply. Prices valid at time of activation only; additional fees will apply to upgrade after installation. Any unreturned equipment fees will automatically be charged to your DISH account or credit or debit card provided to DISH. DISH shall determine eligibility for this o!er in its sole and absolute discretion. Programming and other services provided are subject to the terms and conditions of the Digital Home Advantage Customer Agreement and Residential Customer Agreement, available at www.dish.com or upon request. Blackout and other restrictions apply to sports programming. All service marks and trademarks belong to their respective owners. ©2015 DISH Network L.L.C. All rights reserved. HBO®, Cinemax® and related channels and service marks are the property of Home Box O#ce, Inc. HBO On Demand® and Cinemax On Demand® require compatible HD DVR receiver model. HBO GO® and MAX GO® are only accessible in the US and certain US territories where a high-speed connection is available. Minimum connection of 3 Mbps required for HD viewing on laptop. Minimum 3G connection is required for viewing on mobile devices. Some restrictions may apply. SHOWTIME and related marks are registered trademarks of Showtime Networks Inc., a CBS Company. STARZ and related channels and service marks are property of Starz Entertainment, LLC. ESPN GamePlan, NHL Center Ice, NBA League Pass, ESPN Full Court and MLS Direct Kick automatically continue at a special renewal rate each year provided DISH carries this service, unless you call to cancel prior to the start of the season. ESPN GamePlan, NHL Center Ice, NBA League Pass, ESPN Full Court and MLS Direct Kick are nonrefundable, nonproratable and nontransferable once the season begins. NHL, the NHL Shield and Center Ice name and logo are registered trademarks and The Game Lives Where You Do is a trademark of the National Hockey League. NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams. © NHL 2015. All Rights Reserved. NBA, the NBA logo and team identi"cations are the exclusive property of NBA Properties, Inc. © 2015. All rights reserved. © 2015 NFL Enterprises LLC. NFL and the NFL Shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League. MLS Direct Kick is a trademark of MLS. Sling is a registered trademark of Sling Media, Inc. All new customers are subject to a one-time processing fee.

LIFE&STYLE | food&drink

CELEBRATE NEW YEAR’S EVE

2 0 1 5by Dustin Cardon and

Amber Helsel

20

213000 Old Canton Road, Suite 105, Jackson | (601)981-3205

Like us on Facebook! www.surinofthailand.com

4:30-7PM | 7 DAYS A WEEK1/2 Nigiri/Maki roll

$2 Off House Wines by Glass, Beer and

Signature Martinis

for Rehearsal Dinners, Birthday Parties, Corporate Events and more!

wellness

T he ninth annual Mississippi Blues Mara-thon is Saturday, Jan. 9. The event show-cases the city of Jackson and Mississippi’s blues history. Some of the proceeds go to

the Mississippi Blues Commission, which helps support local blues musicians. Like years past, musicians will play before, dur-ing and after the race. The start and finish area for the marathon will be at the Mississippi Museum of Art’s Art Garden (380 S. Lamar St.) The starting line is at the intersection of Pascagoula and Lamar streets, and the race will go through downtown Jackson to areas such as Fondren and Belhaven. The full-length marathon and half and quar-ter marathons will all begin at 7 a.m., and the kids’ marathon will begin at 9 a.m. Runners in the full and half marathons have a seven-hour time limit to complete the race, although runners on the course

after seven hours will be able to finish unsupported. The quarter marathon and relay race were sold out at press time. The marathon is $90, the half is $80, and the kids marathon is $10. At press time, the music lineup during the race was not available. Packets can be picked up at the pre-race Blues Expo Jan. 7 and 8 at the Jackson Convention Com-plex (105 E. Pascagoula St.). Vendors will have running gear and accessories and also blues-related items. Visitors can enjoy musical performances from blues artists. The expo is open from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Jan. 7 and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Jan. 8. Extended packet pickup hours for Jan. 8 are 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. After the race, the Blues Marathon will host a party in the Art Garden. It will have music, food, sodas, beer, activities for kids and more. Post-race massages will be available for the marathon’s participants at 9 a.m.

Run the Bluesby Amber Helsel

22

CO

URT

ESY M

ISSISSIPPI BLUES M

AR

ATH

ON

23

JFPmenus.comPaid advertising section. Call 601-362-6121 x11 to list your restaurant

AMERICAN/SOUTHERN CUISINEBasil’s (2906 N State St #104, Jackson, 601-982-2100) Paninis pizza, pasta, soups and salads. They’ve got it all on the menu.Broad Street Bakery (4465 Interstate 55 N. 601-362-2900)

Hot breakfast, coffee drinks, fresh breads & pastries, gourmet deli sandwiches.The Feathered Cow (4760 I-55 North 769-233-8366) Simple and homemade equal quality and freshness every time. You never leave The Cow hungry!The Iron Horse Grill (320 W Pearl St, Jackson, 601-398-0151) The smell of charcoal greets you, the music carries you inside.Primos Cafe (2323 Lakeland 601-936-3398/ 515 Lake Harbour 601-898-3400)A Jackson institution for breakfast, blue-plates, catfish, burgers, prime rib, oysters, po-boys & wraps. Famous bakery!Rooster’s (2906 N State St, Jackson, 601-982-2001)You haven’t had a burger until you’ve had a Rooster’s burger. Pair it with their seasoned fries and you’re in heaven. Two Sisters Kitchen (707 N. Congress St. 601-353-1180) Lunch. Mon-Fri, Sun.

PIZZASal & Mookie’s (565 Taylor St. 601-368-1919) Pizzas of all kinds plus pasta, eggplant Parmesan, fried ravioli & ice cream for the kids!Mellow Mushroom (275 Dogwood Blvd, Flowood, 601-992-7499) More than just great pizza and beer. Open Monday - Friday 11-10 and Saturday 11-11.

ITALIANBRAVO! (4500 Interstate 55 N., Jackson, 601-982-8111) Award-winning wine list, Jackson’s see-and-be-seen casual/upscale dining. Fratesi’s (910 Lake Harbour, Ridgeland, 601-956-2929) Fratesi’s has been a staple in Jackson for years, offering great Italian favorites with loving care. The tiramisu is a must-have!

STEAK, SEAFOOD & FINE DININGEslava’s Grille 2481 (Lakeland Dr, Flowood, 601-932-4070) Seafood, Steaks and Pastas The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen (1200 North State St. #100 601-398-4562) Transforms the essence of Mediterranean food and southern classics.The Penguin (1100 John R Lynch Street, 769-251-5222) Fine dining at its best.Rocky’s (1046 Warrington Road, Vicksburg 601-634-0100) Enjoy choice steaks, fresh seafood, great salads, hearty sandwiches.Sal and Phil’s Seafood (6600 Old Canton Rd, Ridgeland 601-957-1188)Great Seafood, Poboys, Lunch Specials, Boiled Seafood, Full Bar, Happy Hour Specials Saltine Oyster Bar (622 Duling Avenue 601-982-2899) Creative seafood classics. One of Jackson’s Best New Restaurants.

MEDITERRANEAN/GREEKAladdin Mediterranean Grill (730 Lakeland Drive 601-366-6033) Delicious authentic dishes including lamb dishes, hummus, falafel, kababs, shwarma.Zeek’s House of Gyros (132 Lakeland Heights Suite P, Flowood 601.992.9498) Jackson’s Newest Greek Restaurant, offering authentic gyros, hummus, and wide selection of craft beers.

BARBEQUEChimneyville (970 High St, Jackson 601-354-4665 www.chimneyville.com) Family style barbeque restaurant and catering service in the heart of downtown Jackson.Hickory Pit Barbecue (1491 Canton Mart Rd. 601-956-7079) The “Best Butts in Town” features BBQ chicken, beef and pork along with burgers and po’boys. Pig and Pint (3139 N State St, Jackson, 601-326-6070) Serving up competition style barbecue along with one of the of best beer selections in metro.

COFFEE HOUSESCups Espresso Café (Multiple Locations, www.cupsespressocafe.com)Jackson’s local group of coffeehouses offer a wide variety of espresso drinks. Wi-fi.

BARS, PUBS & BURGERS4th & Goal Sports Cafe (North, 5100 I-55 Frontage Rd 769-208-8283) Handcrafted food made from the best ingredients. Burgers and Blues (1060 E. County Line Rd. 601-899-0038) Best Burger of 2013, plus live music and entertainment!Fenian’s Pub (901 E. Fortification St. 601-948-0055) Classic Irish pub featuring a menu of traditional food, pub sandwiches & Irish beers on tap.Hal and Mal’s (200 S. Commerce St. 601-948-0888) Pub favorites meet Gulf Coast and Cajun specialties like red beans and rice, the Oyster Platter or daily specials.ISH Grill & Bar (5105 I 55 N Frontage Rd. 769-257-5204) Jackson’s newest hot spot offering classic foods and cocktails in a refined and elegant atmosphere.Legends Grill (5352 Lakeland Dr. 601-919-1165) Your neighborhood Sports Bar and Grill.Martin’s Restaurant and Lounge (214 South State Street 601-354-9712) Lunch specials, pub appetizers or order from the full menu of po-boys and entrees. Full bar, beer selection.Ole Tavern on George Street (416 George St. 601-960-2700) Pub food with a southern flair: beer-battered onion rings, chicken & sausage gumbo, salads, sandwiches.One Block East ( 642 Tombigbee St. 601-944-0203)Burger joint and dive bar located in downtown Jackson. Great music, tasty beverages and Bad Ass Burgers is what we do.Underground 119 (119 South President St. 601-352-2322) Upscale Southern cuisine, gumbo, red beans and rice, fried green tomatoes, grilled or fried shrimp, catfish, kitchen open with full menu till 1 am on Friday and Saturday night.

ASIAN AND INDIANFusion Japanese and Thai Cuisine (1002 Treetops Blvd, Flowood 601-664-7588/1030-A Hwy 51, Madison 601-790-7999)Specializing in fresh Japanese and Thai cuisine, an extensive menu features everything from curries to fresh sushi.Surin of Thailand (3000 Old Canton Road, Suite 105, Jackson 601-981-3205) Jackson’s Newest Authentic Thai & Sushi Bar with 26 signature martini’s and extensive wine list.

WEDNESDAY 12/30 The City of Jackson Community Kwanzaa Celebration is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Medgar Evers Community Center (3759 Edwards Ave.). The annual seven-night event includes speakers, information, discussions, dancing, poetry, music, refreshments and more. Additional dates: Dec. 29-Jan. 1, 6-9 p.m. Free; call 601-608-8327 or 601-960-1741; email juneteenthjackson@yahoo.com.

THURSDAY 12/31 NYE Stäge is at 7 p.m. at The Apothecary at Brent’s Drugs (655 Duling Ave.). Stäge founder, chef Tom Ramsey, serves a special six-course meal. Purchase drinks from a special cocktail menu. Limited seating. $60; call 601-366-3427; stagepopup.com. … The Black and White Affair New Year’s Eve Celebration is from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., at King Edward Hotel (235 W. Capitol St.) and Union Station (300 W. Capitol St.).

Blue South Entertainment and Embellished Events & Interiors host the end-of-the-year event. Admission in-cludes refreshments, live music, a cash bar and a Cham-pagne toast. Tickets available at Eventbrite. In advance: $50, $75 couples; at the door: $60, $100 couples; call 601-201-7284; bluesouthentertainment.com.

FRIDAY 1/1 New Year’s Day Brunch is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Anjou Restaurant (361 Township Ave., Ridgeland). In-cludes drink specials with the purchase of an entree and music from Spirit of Django from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Reser-vations recommended. $12 for bottomless mimosas and Champagne, $11 for bottomless Bloody Marys, entree prices vary; call 601-707-0587; anjourestaurant.net.

SATURDAY 1/2 The PyInfamous Album Release Show is at 8 p.m. at The Workshop (215 W. Capitol St.). The hip-hop artist per-forms with a live band for the re-lease of his album, “We Struggle Too.” Enjoy music from Kerry Thomas, Ahmad Rashad, Saddi Sundiata, Coke Bumaye, Skipp Coon, DJ Sean Mac and Brik-a-Brak. Doors open at 7 p.m. $5; email pyinfamous@gmail.com; pyinfamous.com.

SUNDAY 1/3 The Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medi-cine (PCRM) Cancer Project Class Series is from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at St. Columb’s Episcopal Church (550 Sun-nybrook Road, Ridgeland). Attendees learn about the ben-efits of a plant-based diet in cancer prevention and weight loss. Includes cooking demonstrations and food samples. Registration required. Sessions held Sundays through Jan. 24. $60; call 601-853-0205; email magnoliahealthyliv-ing@gmail.com; magnoliahealthyliving.com.

MONDAY 1/4 Joseph LaSalla performs at 6:30 p.m. at Kathryn’s Steakhouse (6800 Old Canton Road, Ridgeland). The sing-er-guitarist plays music from a variety of genres, including jazz and classic rock. No cover; call 601-956-2803; kathryns-steaks.com. … Blue Monday is at 7 p.m. at Hal & Mal’s (200 Commerce St.). The Central Mississippi Blues Society hosts this weekly jam session, which features the Front Porch Acoustic Hour and a performance by the Blue Monday Band. Includes light refreshments and a cash bar. $5; call 601-948-0888; email centralmsbluessociety@gmail.com.

TUESDAY 1/5 Art Attack Vol. 1 is at 7 p.m. at Big Sleepy’s (208 W. Capitol St.). View and purchase art from Mississippi artists, including Wood Simmons, Melissa Bryant, Jordan Thorn-ton, Douglas Cruise and Ming Donkey, with live music from Nossiens and Echo Courts. Prices vary; email artattackmis-sissippi@gmail.com; find the event on Facebook. … “Jersey Boys” is at 8 p.m. at Thalia Mara Hall (255 E. Pascagoula St.). The award-winning musical is based on the life of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Additional dates: Jan. 5-8, 8 p.m., Jan. 9, 2 p.m., Jan. 9, 8 p.m., Jan. 10, 1 p.m., and Jan. 10, 7 p.m. $22-$87; call 800-745-3000; jacksonbroadway.com.

WEDNESDAY 1/6 None the Wiser performs at 8 p.m. at Offbeat (151 Wesley Ave.). 3rd Eye Booking Company, Outbound Flight and The Khronox host. The rock band from Joplin, Mo., performs as part of “The Dog Days Tour.” Die With Nature, the Empty Handed Painters and Rafiki Grove also perform. $10; call 601-376-9404; find the event on Facebook.

THURSDAY 12/31“Gridiron” Dinner Theater is at Kismet’s Restaurant and Catering in Brandon.

WEDNESDAY 12/30The Planetarium Holiday Shows are at noon at the Russell C. Davis Planetarium.

MONDAY 1/4The 2016 Legislative Welcome Reception is at Coxwell & Associates, PLLC.

CO

URT

ESY

PY

INFA

MO

US

BESTBETSDEC. 30, 2015 -

JAN. 6, 2016

FLICK

R / A

ND

REW

JAM

ES

“Jersey Boys,” a musical about the career of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, is Jan. 5-10 at Thalia Mara Hall.

BY MICAH SMITH

EVENTS@JACKSONFREEPRESS.COM

FAX: 601-510-9019DAILY UPDATES AT

JFPEVENTS.COM

Hip-hop artist PyInfamous performs for the release of his new album, “We Struggle Too,” Saturday, Jan. 2, at The Workshop.

24

Check jfpevents.com for updates and more listings, or to add your own events online. You can also email event details to events@jacksonfreepress.com to be added to the calendar. The deadline is noon the Wednesday prior to the week of publication.

City of Jackson Community Kwanzaa Celebration Dec. 30-Jan. 1, 6-9 p.m., at Med-gar Evers Community Center (3759 Edwards Ave.). The annual seven-night event includes speakers, information, discussions, dancing, poetry, music, refreshments and more. Free; call 601-608-8327 or 601-960-1741; email juneteenthjackson@yahoo.com.

Noon Year’s Eve Celebration Dec. 31, 9 a.m.- 1 p.m., at Mississippi Children’s Museum (2145 Highland Drive). Includes Japanese-inspired storytelling and noisemakers, dancing with Mr. Snowman and a confetti rocket launch. Missis-sippi blues artist Vasti Jackson performs at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Included with admission ($10, children under 12 months free); call 601-981-5469; mississippichildrensmuseum.com.

2016 NYE Ladies Night Dec. 31, 9 p.m., at Ole Tavern on George Street (416 George St.). Includes music from DJ Glenn Rogers, a Cham-pagne toast and more. Ladies drink free. $15; call 601-960-2700; find the event on Facebook.

New Year’s Eve Bash Dec. 31, 9 p.m., at One Block East (642 Tombigbee St.). The party includes drink specials, a toast, a balloon drop, music from DJ Money Hungry and more. $10; call 601-944-0203; find the event on Facebook.

The Black and White Affair New Year’s Eve Cel-ebration Dec. 31, 9 p.m.-2 a.m., at King Edward Hotel (235 W. Capitol St.) and Union Station (300 W. Capitol St.). Blue South Entertainment and Embellished Events & Interiors host. Includes refreshments, music, a cash bar and a Champagne toast. Tickets sold at Eventbrite. In advance: $50, $75 couples; at the door: $60, $100 couples; call 601-201-7284; bluesouthentertainment.com.

New Year’s Eve Blowout Dec. 31, 10 p.m., at Martin’s Restaurant & Bar (214 S. State St.). The Cedric Burnside Project and The Delta Get Down perform. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission TBA; call 601-354-9712; martinslounge.net.

Jackson Area Web & App Developers December Meetup Dec. 30, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at The Hive (Dickies Building, 736 S. President St.). Speak-ers include Matthew McLaughlin of Coalesce Coworking Space and AngularJS expert Joe Buza. Enjoy pizza, beer and socializing before the pre-sentations. Free; call 601-812-8166; meetup.com.

Mississippi Geographic Alliance Travel Fellow-ship Application Deadline Dec. 31, statewide. The Global Exploration for Educators Organiza-tion (GEEO) sponsors the program that gives teachers the opportunity to travel and share their experiences with students. Visit the website for guidelines. Free; tinyurl.com/MGAtravel.

2016 Legislative Welcome Reception Jan. 4, 6 p.m., at Coxwell & Associates, PLLC (500 N. State St). The Mississippi Democratic Party hosts this event in honor of new legislators, including incoming state Rep. Jarvis Dortch and incoming state Rep. Kathy Sykes. Tickets avail-able by financial contribution, starting at $25; mississippidemocrats.org.

Visiting Artist: Tony Davenport Jan. 3, 1:30- 5:30 p.m., at Mississippi Children’s Museum (2145 Highland Drive). Local artist Tony Dav-enport introduces children to methods of artistic expression. Included with admission ($10, chil-dren under 12 months free); call 601-981-5469; mississippichildrensmuseum.com.

New Year’s Eve at BRAVO! Dec. 31, 4:30 p.m., at BRAVO! Italian Restaurant & Bar (Highland Village, 4500 Interstate 55 N.). Enjoy dinner complemented with several specials. No reserva-tions required. Free admission, food prices vary; call 601-982-8111; email jeffg@bravobuzz.com.

NYE Stäge Dec. 31, 7 p.m., at The Apothecary at Brent’s Drugs (655 Duling Ave.). Chef Tom Ramsey serves a six-course meal. Purchase drinks from a special cocktail menu. Limited seating. $60; call 601-366-3427; stagepopup.com.

Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) Cancer Project Class Series Jan. 3, 12:30-2:30 p.m., at St. Columb’s Episcopal Church (550 Sunnybrook Road, Ridgeland). Learn about the benefits of a plant-based diet in cancer prevention and weight loss. Includes cooking demonstrations and food samples. Registration required. Ses-sions held Sundays through Jan. 24. $60; call 601-853-0205; email magnoliahealthyliving@gmail.com; magnoliahealthyliving.com.

Planetarium Schedule Dec. 30-31, noon, at Rus-sell C. Davis Planetarium (201 E. Pascagoula St.). Options include “Lasers in Space,” “Let It Snow” and “Winter Holiday (Laser Adventure).” $6.50; $5.50 seniors; $4 children (cash or check); call 601-960-1550; thedavisplanetarium.com.

“Gridiron” Dinner Theater Dec. 31, 7 p.m., at Kismet’s Restaurant and Catering (315 Crossgates Blvd., Brandon). The Detectives presents the interactive comedy. Seating at 6:30 p.m.; show at 7 p.m. Includes a three-course meal. Reservations required. For ages 18 and up. $39; call 601-937-1752 or 601-291-7444; thedetectives.biz.

“Jersey Boys” Jan. 5-8, 8 p.m., Jan. 9, 2 p.m., Jan. 9, 8 p.m., Jan. 10, 1 p.m., Jan. 10, 7 p.m., at Thalia Mara Hall (255 E. Pascagoula St.). The award-winning musical is based on the life of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. $22-$87; call 800-745-3000; jacksonbroadway.com.

Argiflex Album Release Show Jan. 2, 9 p.m., at Big Sleepy’s (208 W. Capitol St.). The live elec-tronica artist’s album is titled “Cybersmog.” Vexa-drem and Orin also perform. For all ages. $5; call 601-863-9516; find the event on Facebook.

None the Wiser Jan. 6, 8 p.m., at Offbeat (151 Wesley Ave.). The rock band from Joplin, Mo., performs. Die With Nature, the Empty Handed Painters and Rafiki Grove also perform. $10; call 601-376-9404; find the event on Facebook.

Art Attack Vol. 1 Jan. 5, 7 p.m., at Big Sleepy’s (208 W. Capitol St.). View and purchase art from Mississippi artists, including Wood Simmons, Melissa Bryant, Jordan Thornton, Douglas Cruise and Ming Donkey, with music from Nossiens and Echo Courts. Prices vary; find the event on Face-book or email artattackmississippi@gmail.com.

25

214 S. STATE ST.DOWNTOWN JACKSON

601.354.9712

See Our New MenuWWW.MARTINSLOUNGE.NET

THURSDAY 12/31

NEW YEARS EVE BLOWOUTW/ CEDRIC BURNSIDE PROJECT

10 P.M

FRIDAY 1/1

SOUTHERN KOMFORT BRASS BAND

KICKING OFF THE NEW YEAR10 P.M.

SATURDAY 1/2

YOUNG VALLEY 10 P.M.

SUNDAY 1/3

BEER BUCKET SPECIAL(5 Beers for $8.75)ALL DAY LONG!

MONDAY 1/4

OPEN MIC NIGHT$5 APPETIZERS

(DINE IN ONLY)TUESDAY 1/5

SHRIMP BOIL5 - 10 PM

$1 PBR & HIGHLIFE$2 MARGARITAS

10pm - 12am

UPCOMING SHOWS1/8 - Sabotage (Beastie Boys Tribute Featuring Members of Flow Tribe &

Gravity A) w/ Shake It Like A Caveman

1/9 - Skymatic w/ Special Guest

1/13 - Jackson Indie Music Week Lineup

1/16 - The Steepwater Band (THE STEEPWATER BAND DOES THE ROLLING

STONES’ GET YER YA-YA’S OUT)

1/22 - Danny Hutchens & The Spectacular Failures Album Preview Show (Daniel Hutchens & Bloodkin

Family)

2/5 - Downright

2/19 - CBDB w/ Backup Planet

Interested in interviewing musicians, reviewing albums

and networking within Jackson’s music community?

The Jackson Free Press is looking for

interested in covering the city’s music scene.

Please e-mail inquiries to micah@jacksonfreepress.com

MUSIC_INTERVIEWS!!!

We still have limited dates available for Private Party

bookings!We provide the decorations, food & cash bar. You bring the people!

Call Today to Book your reception, retirement,

anniversary, work, reunion or holiday party!

601-960-2700 facebook.com/Ole Tavern 416 George St, Jackson, MS

- DECEMBER 31 -

NYE COUNTDOWN

LADIES NIGHTFree Champagne and Party Favors

- JANUARY 1 -

EMD WITH DJ REIGN- JANUARY 2 -

ACOUSTIC SOUL PARTY

B lues artist Cedric Burnside was on his way to a gig in the Florida Keys when he got the call. It was his girl-friend and manager, Mona Ables,

and she was crying. “It made me scared. I was like, ‘Man, what’s going on?’ But they were tears of joy,

you know,” the Holly Springs native says. “She told me we’d been nominated for best blues album of the year to win a Grammy.” When the Recording Academy an-nounced the nominees on Dec. 7, 2015, Burnside’s seventh album, “Descendants of Hill Country,” made the short list. The album, which he released in February, is nominated alongside Buddy Guy’s “Born to Play Guitar,” Betty LaVette’s “Wor-thy,” Shemekia Copeland’s “Outskirts of Love” and “Muddy Waters 100,” a centen-nial tribute featuring artists such as John Primer, Gary Clark Jr. and Derek Trucks. The winner will be announced at the 58th Grammy Awards ceremony on Feb. 15. Burnside attributes the attention that his album has received to new listeners dis-covering hill-country blues, the style of mu-sic that his grandfather, R.L. Burnside, and Junior Kimbrough popularized in the early 1990s. However, the sound has been a staple of north Mississippi for many years. Burn-side points to that history on tracks such as “Born with It” and “Down in the Delta,” a song that his uncle, Garry Burnside, wrote about their family’s past as sharecroppers. “I’ve been hearing for years people asking for a more traditional style of music to come around. They’ve been hearing the same style of music for so long,” Burnside says. “… I play hill-country blues. It just happened to be a very rare blues from north Mississippi that people didn’t really know about or understand for a bunch of years.

But for the last eight to 10 years, hill-coun-try has finally started getting recognition. People are hearing more about it. I’m glad to be one that’s giving it to them and glad they can relate to it.” Burnside enjoys all the various blues forms, from Texas to Chicago blues, and

even sees some similarities between his sty-listic heritage and Delta blues. But there’s also something completely different in the hill-country style, he says, even in the un-orthodox song structure, which is rooted in a more raw, dirty blues sound. “It’s hard to explain how the rhythm is because you don’t have no eight bars or 12 bars, none of that,” Burnside says. “It’s all feel music, you know. Sometimes, cats might change on the one, or hold the one for three minutes. You never know. You just have to listen and hope that you catch it.” As thankful as he is—to God, to fans, and to his famous and influential grandfa-ther—to be recognized for his music, Burn-side says he wants to continue business as usual. For now, he plans to stick to his rou-tine on the road, and within the next four to five months, he’ll head back to the studio to record his eighth album. “You know, it’s great and everything, but I do it from my heart,” Burnside says of the Grammy nomination. “I love to play my music, period, with or without the accolades, but I’m just glad people enjoy it and under-stand my music. And I’m going to keep on doing it, man. It’s been a beautiful year.” The Cedric Burnside Project performs at 10 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 31, at Martin’s Restaurant & Bar (214 S. State St., 601-354-9712) and at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 9, at The Iron Horse Grill (320 W. Pearl St., 601-398-0151). For more infor-mation, visit cedricburnside.net.

DIVERSIONS | music

The Future of ‘Feel Music’ by Micah Smith

Blues artist Cedric Burnside’s latest album, “Descendants of Hill Country,” was recently nominated for a Grammy Award.

CO

URT

ESY C

EDR

IC BU

RN

SIDE

26

MUSIC | live

CO

URT

ESY

ST

EELE

HEA

RT

Steele Heart

The history of the Mississippi State University women’s basketball team is light on success, to say the least. The team began play in 1974 and didn’t make the NCAA Tournament until the late 1990s. It wasn’t

until 1988 that the program reached the National Wom-en’s Invitational Tournament for the first postseason berth. But things started to change when Sharon Fanning-Otis was took over the program, starting in the 1995 season. Fanning-Otis laid the foundation for success in Lady Bulldogs basketball. In 1999, she led the Lady Bulldogs to reach the NCAA Tournament, helped the team earn its first national ranking in 2000 and took Mississippi State to the

Sweet 16 during the 2009-2010 season. The highest ranking the program achieved at any point was No. 10 in 2003. Fanning-Otis retired and left the program in 2012, and current coach Vic Schaefer took over. In his second season, Schaefer brought the Lady Bulldogs to the quarterfinals of the Women’s NIT. Last season, he added the most coveted women’s high-school basketball prospect in the state of Mississippi: Victo-ria Vivians. The five-star player out of Scott Central High School was just about a legend in girl’s basketball in Missis-sippi before her career was even done with the Lady Rebels. It didn’t take long for her to make an impact on the team. She helped lead it to a school-record 27 wins in a 27-7 season that included an 11-5 mark in SEC play and 10-0 in nonconference games. Those 11 wins in conference play set a school record. The team also had a school-best 18 straight wins at the beginning of the season and spent 17 consecutive weeks in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll, which broke yet another school record. The Lady Bulldogs won 20 games in back-to-back sea-sons for the second time in program history and improved 10 spots in the SEC standings. MSU women’s basketball reached the Women’s NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2009-2010 season.

The Lady Bulldogs reached the second round of the Women’s NCAA Tournament, but the season ended in a loss to Duke University. At the end of the season, the Lady Bull-dogs tied a school record with the 2000 team when it finished the season ranked No. 12 in the final AP Poll. Schaefer was named 2015 AP SEC Coach of the Year, 2015 SEC Coaches’ Co-Coach of the year and was a 2015 Naismith National Coach of the Year Semifinalist after the Lady Bulldogs’ remarkable season. He’s already tied for third for most wins in program history and is second in program history in SEC wins. Last year, Vivians led the Lady Bulldogs in scoring with 14.9 points per game and was the top scoring freshman in the

SEC and third overall in scoring in the conference. She received honors such as Second-Team All-SEC, SEC All-Freshman, AP All-American Honorable Mention and Full Court Press Freshman All-Amer-ican Second-Team. Viv-ians won the 2015 C Spire Gillom Trophy, which the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum gives to the best women’s bas-ketball player in the state of Mississippi. The bud-ding superstar also got it done in the classroom, as she was named SEC First-Year Honor Roll. The Lady Bulldogs started the 2015-2016 season ranked No. 11 in the AP Poll and No.

13 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, but thankfully for State fans, the team didn’t peak there. Just a few short weeks on the court, these Lady Bulldogs have already set a new school record for the highest ranking at any point by being ranked No. 8 in both the AP and Coaches poll. After a 5-0 start, the Lady Bulldogs lost a close 53-47 con-test to sixth-ranked the University of Texas before immediately hitting their stride again to reach 12-1 for the season thus far. However, the Lady Bulldogs don’t start SEC play until the new year and still have a ranked University of South Florida team to play in the non-conference schedule on Dec. 30. Vivians is already outdoing her freshman effort and is leading the team in scoring with 17.8 points per game. Her top showings include her 36 points in a win against Louisi-ana Tech University and 27 points in a win against Savannah State University. She is near the top of nearly every statistical category for the Lady Bulldogs. There is no question that Vivians is the favorite to win the Gillom Trophy this season. She could be a part of a MSU sweep of state basketball awards this season. The main question is: What new highs are the Lady Bulldogs going to reach this season under Schaefer and Viv-ians? Right now it seems like the sky’s the limit for the MSU women’s basketball program.

Taking Women’s Hoops to New Highs at MSU

DIVERSIONS | jfp sports

CO

URT

ESY M

SU AT

HLET

ICS

Lady Bulldog Victoria Vivians helped lead Mississippi State University to a banner season last year, and this season is looking even better for her and the team.

THURSDAY, DEC. 31College football (3-7 p.m., ESPN): Watch the first semifinal of the College Football Playoffs between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Clemson Tigers … College foot-ball (7-11 p.m., ESPN): Here’s the second semifinal of the College Football Playoffs between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Michigan State Spartans.

FRIDAY, JAN. 1 College football (7:30-11 p.m., ESPN): University of Mississippi looks to show up this year in the Sugar Bowl against Oklahoma State unlike its showing against TCU in last year’s Peach Bowl.

SATURDAY, JAN. 2College basketball (6-8 p.m., SECN): The UM Rebels can make a statement on the opening day of SEC play with a road win against the Kentucky Wildcats.

SUNDAY, JAN. 3NFL (noon-3 p.m., FOX): Could this be the final game for both Drew Brees and Sean Payton as Saints as New Orleans hits the road to face arch-rival Atlanta Falcons?

MONDAY, JAN. 4 College basketball (7:30-10 p.m., ESPNU): Alcorn State hits the road in SWAC play to face Texas Southern.

TUESDAY, JAN. 5College basketball (8-10 p.m., ESPN): The Kentucky Wildcats hit the road in SEC play as the LSU Tigers get their chance at the top SEC team.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 6College basketball (8-10 p.m., SECN): Mississippi State looks to get on a roll, and a home win against ranked Texas A&M is a great place to start. The Rebels defense, even without Robert Nkemdiche, should be nearly unlike anything the Cowboys saw in the Big 12. My pick: Rebels 48, Cowboys 31.

Barring no one else falling out of a window and being suspended for the Sugar Bowl, the UM Rebels should be in good shape to beat Oklahoma State. Rebel fans, keep your fingers crossed.

by Bryan FlynnSLATE

the best in sports over the next seven days

Follow Bryan Flynn at jfpsports.com, @jfpsports and at facebook.com/jfpsports.

27

28

2481 Lakeland Drive Flowood | 601.932.4070

2481 Lakeland Drive 2481 Lakeland Drive Flowood | Flowood |

$30 Date Night Special

970 High St, Jackson(601) 354-4665

www.chimneyville.com

TRY ONE OF OUR HEARTY

AND HEALTHY SALADS

TODAY

THE

GREEN RO

OM

-Pool Is Cool-

We’re still #1!Best Place to

Play PoolBest of Jackson 2015

INDUSTRY HAPPY HOUR Dai ly ! 1 1pm ! -2am

DAILY BEER SPECIALS12pm ! - !7pm

POOL LEAGUE Mon ! - !Fri !Night

DRINK SPECIALSBURGERS INGS ULL BAR

GATED PARKINGBIG SCREEN TV’S

LEAGUE AND TEAM PLAYBEGINNERS TO ADVANCED INSTRUCTORS AVAILABLE

444!Bounds!St.!Jackson!MS601-718-7665

REAL PEOPLE REAL DESIRE REAL FUN

800.513.9842Try for FREE

Ahora en Español Teligence/18+

CHATLINETM

CALL US FOR GAME DAY CATERING

Boiled and Peeled ShrimpMarinated Crab Claws - Soups

Gumbo - Red Beans and RiceCALL AHEAD - 48 HOURS IS IDEAL!

THANKS FOR YOUR BEST OF JACKSON VOTES!

www.salandphils.com | 6600 Old Canton Rd, Ridgeland | 601.957.1188

29

!"#$%

Hone your skills, gain valuable experience and college credit*.

Set your hours, and attend free training workshops.

E-mail interns@jacksonfreepress.com, telling us why you want to intern with us and what makes you the ideal candidate.

*College credit available to currently enrolled college students in select disciplines.

30

31

BULLETIN BOARD: ClassifiedsAs low as $20! jfpclassifieds.com

HELP WANTED

SERVICES

TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD: Post an ad at jfpclassifieds.com, call 601-362-6121, ext. 11 or fax to 601-510-9019. Deadline: Mondays at Noon.

Are you ready to make a Lifestyle Change today?You don't have to swallow a hand full of pills multiple time s a day or give up

food for a meal replacement shake.

THRIVEwill help you with:

Mental Clarity & Cognitive SupportMetabolic Support

Lean Muscle SupportAnti-Aging & Antioxidant Support

Digestive & Immune SupportJoint Support & Discomfort Management

Before - April 2014 After - September 2015 64lbs lost and maintaining

Call Webster Allen to start your THRIVE Experience!

601-497-9767www.ThriveMeUp.com

Before - April 2014 After - September 2015

Le-Vel Independent Brand PromoterLV-242467

HIRINGOperations Supervisors

Canton, MSAll shifts – full benefits

Visit www.exel.comClick on Join Our TeamOr call (601) 407-0856

HIRINGForklift Operators

Canton, MSAll Shifts – full benefits

Visit www.exel.comClick on Join Our TeamOr call (601) 407-0856

Mention This Ad

Get $20 OffYour Cleaning

(Offer ends January 30, 2016)

20 plus Years of Experience

601.857.8579www.littlebigstore.com

Open Daily in December

World

’s Largest Record Collect

ion

! (Ma

be)

224 EAST CAPITOL ST | JACKSON. MS 39201769!208!8689 | LIQUIDLIGHTCAFE.COM

!"#$%&'(%&)%&*#%+*,,-(.('/+%&'%0(1%2(3#4+%56(%3'7%8&#9+%1&'4/%:(%/;(%&'-$%/;<'=%,&,,<'=>?

Make the stroke of midnight last… all night.

!"#$%&'$()$*+,-$./$01+23$$4$$5)!678969(!!$:;<=>$!);!)?$@;A+$!);:.B$AC>$!;!)?$$4$$&&&6,=D?2DE+/-.F+BG1/-C21,6FDE

DISCOUNTPRINTER CARTRIDGES Competitive with Online PricesBetter Pricing Than Big Box Stores

Order Online or By Phonesupply.extraordinarysolutions.biz

601!543!9600Net15 and Net30 plans available for returning customers

Lexmark Epson HP XeroxAnd Many More