V14n16 2016 JFP College Basketball Preview

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IMANI KHAYYAM

JACKSONIAN EDDIE YOUNG

F

lowood resident Eddie Young, the co-director of the Reservoir Youth Basketball and Cheerleading League, has a vision.

He wants his league to not only be the best youth basketball league in the metro area but also the most inclusive one.

Young, 35, says when he was growing up in Natchez, the city had two leagues—one for white kids and one for African American kids.

One summer, the leagues combined into one, and he says that it was one of the best years of summer-league basketball in his hometown.

“It was great to watch the best black and white kids balling out on the same court,” Young says.

He and his co-director, Lewis Lowe, are hoping to achieve the same result with their league, which first launched in winter 2014 at Sunnybrook Children’s Home. They organized a season this past summer at Mississippi Basketball and Athletics in Jackson, but Young wanted a location that would be more visible to families around the metro area for the league’s third season, which began play Sunday, Dec. 6, at Hits and Hoops (1576 Old Fannin Road, Suite B). Now, the league has more than 200 boys and girls signed up for basketball, and Young says that it is the only league that has cheerleading for basketball games.

“You mainly see cheerleading for football in this area,” Young says. “We wanted to bring cheerleading to basketball to make our league stand out even more.”

CONTENTS

Young’s wife, Kimberly Young, helps to coordinate the cheerleading squads and works with coaches to get them ready for games. The home team for each game has their cheerleaders perform a dance routine at halftime. “This is a league for everybody,” Young says. “We are currently 70 percent black and 30 percent white, but as time goes along we hope those numbers get closer to a near 50-50 split.”

The league motto is “basketball the right way,” Young says. That means all kids wear the same uniform, coaches teach the fundamentals and referees do the best job possible.

At the end of the season, starting in February, the league will have playoffs and an endof-the-year cheer-off competition.

Young says he is excited for this winter league, but he might be even more excited about the upcoming summer league.

“This winter league filled up fast with a lot of word of mouth. After this season, we expect even more people to be interested in the summer league,” he says.

Young and his wife have four children: son Kaiden, 5, and daughters Jarnae, 11, Kamyron, 9, and 5-year-old JaKaylyn, all of whom are active in basketball, cheerleading or both.

Registration for the summer league will begin in April. For more information, find Hits and Hoops’ Facebook page, visit msplaysports.com or call 1-877-824-0096, extension 101.

—Bryan Flynn

cover photo of Raeford “Gator” Worsham courtesy JSU Athletics/Charles A. Smith

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Mississippi’s laws for protecting vulnerable and elderly people could use a reboot. Meet the people who want to make that happen.

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“I imagined the countless number of candles and lamps that had lit the lonely stone room, the infinite number of mantras uttered in the darkness. I imagined the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who had followed the same path, made the same climb.”

—Genevieve Legacy, “Pilgrimage Practice, Kindness and a Potato”

27 /iÃÌ }Ê Õ `>À iÃ

Justin Ransburg uses different mediums to tell stories in his artwork.

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4 ............................. EDITOR’S NOTE 6 ............................................ TALKS 10 ................................ EDITORIAL 11 .................................... OPINION 13 ............................ COVER STORY 20 .......................... FOOD & DRINK 22 ......................................... FAITH 24 ....................................... 8 DAYS 25 ...................................... EVENTS 26 ....................................... MUSIC 26 ....................... MUSIC LISTINGS 27 .......................................... ARTS 29 .................................... PUZZLES 31 ....................................... ASTRO

JUSTIN RANSBURG / IMANI KHAYYAM; GENEVIEVE LEGACY; IMANI KHAYYAM

DECEMBER 23 - 29, 2015 | VOL. 14 NO. 16

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EDITOR’S note

by Donna Ladd, Editor-in-Chief

Jedis, Space Mountain and Love

I

’ve had people tell me over recent weeks that they’re surprised that (a) I’m a huge “Star Warsâ€? fan, (b) Todd and I love Disney World (especially Space Mountain and that amazing Expedition Everest coaster), and (c) that I’m such a Christmas fanatic down to having many boxes of dĂŠcor and giftwrap and reindeer (my holiday icon; you know, as in “Donnerâ€?) in my attic.

The reasoning they’re surprised, I think, is because I’m so serious about social issues and equality—from gender to race to LGBT rights—I’m supposed to be too sophisticated for such trivial, prosaic pursuits. Ha. Those folks don’t know me.

Or maybe they want me to be as cynical as they are about so many fun pursuits.

Don’t get me wrong: I used to be much more judgy and, thus, less happy. Coming from a less-than-educated background in Mississippi—where history makes us the world’s best self-haters, I think—I was out to prove something when I escaped into the larger world. I even tried to lose my southern accent; hey, I was young and naïve.

But even then, I didn’t let go of my love of Christmas kitsch and revelry, which I inherited from my mother and, probably, from all those Victorian types I descend from. I’ve often had the biggest tree and the craziest selection of ornaments and spent more time wrapping creative gifts than just about anybody I know. I simply love this holiday.

And there is that word: love.

The truth is that I love too many things, and people, and ideas, and experiences to be a sourpuss who complains about everything and judges people who obsess as much as Todd and I do about what must be Rey’s back story in that galaxy far, far away. (I have my own fairly unique theory, but you know, spoiler alerts keep me from sharing it with y’all. Sorry. I think I’m right, though.)

I’ve always been interested in many things—from the eruditish to the lower-

browish—but I used to have a hard time just taking time to enjoy the remarkable experiences and people that life presented me.

A few years into my almost 20-year relationship with Todd, we discovered the concept of mindfulness together—when I picked up a book in a bed-and-breakfast in Woodstock, N.Y. (swear to God). As I read the book on the very simple but elusive principal of staying present in your own life and for your experiences, it was as if a curtain was being lifted on my life, and I liked what I could glimpse on the other side.

Where had this been through my whole

Mindfulness teaches you to notice and relish the little things.

blessed, frenetic life when I had a hard time being satisfied with anything?

That day, I started trying to practice mindfulness: simply being fully present. It’s damn hard, and as the Buddhists tell you, it’s always “practice.� You end up going through your life catching yourself when you’re not present for something and then pulling yourself back to whatever is right in front of you. You notice more things. You experience more bliss, and from the simplest things.

For instance, I’ve been spending time in New York City working on a project. In my old days there, I had a rather charmed life, but I wasn’t present for a lot of it, always looking at the next thing. These days, I try to enjoy every moment there just as I do here in Jackson or anywhere else I go. I just stayed on a block in Brooklyn where the brownstones had front yards, and every day I would intentionally notice who had put lights out that day. It became a game as I walked to the subway. Mindfulness teaches you to notice and relish the little things instead of obsessing over how things would be better “if.�

I took the same approach one night when I ended up in midtown alone after a book party there (for the fabulous photographer Maude Schuyler Clay’s “Mississippi History�; get your signed copy at Lemuria).

The area was packed with people clearly there to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree—something I never used to care about because it was “touristy.� So after impulsively buying a new pair of shoes—hey, they were on sale—I wandered over to the tree and watched the by-then-thinning crowd take millions of selfies with family and friends.

The place was filled with love and delight.

I then watched a remarkable light show on the side of Saks First Avenue and then slowly wandered, lingering in front of and snapping Instagrams of Saks’ remarkable holiday windows, even though it was almost midnight. It was one of so many peak experiences I have had since I’ve discovered how to just enjoy stuff without ruining it with angsty cynicism and unrealistic expectations.

The day before “Star Wars: The Force Awakens� premiered, I was on a packed subway headed to Manhattan when two women behind me started belittling people who like the movie series. One had paid $28 for a 3D ticket to go opening night with friends, and all she could do was complain about how silly the whole thing was.

I felt sorry for her. She was missing the whole point about being mindful: Try to enjoy what’s in front of you. It doesn’t mean you never criticize things that matter, but pre-whining about something you paid a lot of money to do is kind of the textbook example of not being present in your own life.

If you don’t like “Star Wars,� then don’t go.

But trying to turn your dislike into a badge of honor is just goofy and fruitless.

While Todd and I were at Disney World recently with his family, I reposted a pic on Instagram of a saying that nailed the delightful experience we were having together: “Fall in love with as many things as possible.� It was apropos timing, as the advice described exactly how we were acting as we walked 50,000 steps over two days, packing in everything we could like we were teenagers.

Every moment was special, and I definitely had to use my Jedi mindfulness tricks to get through the long lines, being that I’m traditionally an impatient person.

I’m writing this four days before Christmas. I got back last Thursday, and I’m crazy busy this week trying to prep celebrations and gifts for staff, friends and then the family I’ll see this weekend. In the old days, I would have complained all along the way, not managing to enjoying the lovely things in front of me, whether it’s the crazy Christmas baubles I’ve collected over the years or my tuxedo cat who won’t stay off my wrapping table.

Yes, I’m a serious person, and I care deeply about injustice and hatred. But the reason that I do is because I love so many things and people and cultures and experiences so deeply. I want our world to offer its blessings to everyone, and I want every person, regardless of beliefs, to have a chance to accept them, be happy and love deeply.

In fact, that’s my Christmas wish for you. Have a joyful holiday filled with wonder and awe and a Jedi or two, if that is what makes you happy. It certainly does me.

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CONTRIBUTORS

4

Bryan Flynn

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Bryan Flynn is a life-long Mississippian and current Jackson resident. He is a husband and stay-at-home father to a baby girl. He wrote the Jacksonian on Eddie Young and the cover package.

News Editor R.L. Nave is a native Missourian who roots for St. Louis (and the Mizzou Tigers)— and for Jackson. Send him news tips at rlnave@jacksonfreepress. com or call him at 601-362-6121 ext. 12. He wrote news stories about City of Jackson issues.

Web Editor Dustin Cardon is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi. He enjoys reading fantasy novels and wants to write them himself one day. He wrote the food story on the Hong Kong Tea House.

Editorial Assistant Maya Miller is a senior psychology major at Jackson State University. She’s learned that adulthood means choosing her own bedtime, and she’s not equipped for that responsibility yet. She wrote the arts story on Justin Ransburg.

Freelance writer Genevieve Legacy is an artist-writer-community development consultant. She works at Hope Enterprise Corporation and lives in Brandon with her husband and youngest son. She wrote about her recent pilgrimage in Tibet.

Freelance writer Julie Skipper practices law by day and gets out and about around Jackson the rest of the time. She fancies art, fashion, and travel.

She wrote a food story about BRAVO!’s recent Champagne tasting.

Freelance writer Ken Hardy is a physician, scientist and musician who sings and plays keys, bass and guitar. He feels too old to be the next big rock star but too young to give up all hope just yet. He wrote a music story about Rick Springfield.

Bookkeeper Melanie Collins is a mother of three and grandmother of one—so far! In what little spare time she has, she enjoys cooking and playing piano.

NEW EXHIBIT HATCHING JANUARY 23 AT THE SCIENCE MUSEUM Four Years.

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The Compass Curriculum at Millsaps College will help you choose your own path to graduation in four years with a bachelor’s degree, or we will waive additional tuition and mandatory fees for courses required for graduation.

5

¹7E HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO BUT AT LEAST THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD FOUNDATION ²

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Thursday, December 17 Finance ministers from the 15 Security Council nations adopt a plan aimed at disrupting outside revenue that the Islamic State group gets from oil and antiquities sales, ransom payments and other criminal activities. ‌ School officials in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Houston receive terror threats similar to the ones received by the Los Angeles and New York school districts earlier in the week.

Friday, December 18 President Obama meets with families of victims of the mass shooting in San Bernardino, California. ‌ Hillary Clinton’s campaign accuses rival Bernie Sanders of stealing millions of dollars worth of information about potential voters. ...

Pope Francis declares that Mother Teresa will be canonized as a saint next year following the Vatican’s approval of a miracle attributed to her intercession.

Saturday, December 19 Beijing puts its second smog red alert of the month into effect, forcing many cars off the roads and restricting factory production.

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Sunday, December 20 “Star Wars: The Force Awakens� brings in $238 million over the weekend, making it the biggest North American debut ever, according to studio estimates.

Spoiler alerts are raised to red level.

6

Monday, December 21 Mayor Tony Yarber lays out the Gateway Housing Initiative, a program designed to improve the City’s housing stock and revitalize west Jackson neighborhoods through a $4.1 million investment in the Capitol Street corridor. ‌ FIFA bans former president Sepp Blatter and vice president Michel Platini for eight years for unethical conduct.

Get breaking news at jfpdaily.com.

A Test for Contractor Reform, Transparency

by R.L. Nave

A

lmost two years after voters in Jackson decided to tax themselves an extra 1-percent worth of sales tax on certain goods, heavy machinery will soon be turning dirt and the City will start spending from the tax fund.

Officials also believe sales-tax-related construction will be a good test for a new openness and transparency regime the City says it’s entering. In a near-unanimous vote, the Jackson City Council approved hiring of Jackson-based IMS Engineers for $839,999 to manage projects in the first year of the 1-percent sales-tax master plan.

Mayor Tony Yarber said total firstyear expenditures will total about $15 million. In four subsequent years, Yarber expects the City will commit $50 million in sales-tax-funded projects, but did know how much IMS would be paid in those years because it would depend on the number of projects involved.

Council members asked 30 minutes of questions before voting 4-to-1 in favor of hiring IMS, with Ward 1 Councilman Ashby Foote as the lone dissent. “We’ve got all these layers of oversight, and we’re building in another layer in here,�

Foote said. He has expressed frustration during other contract negotiations about the council’s inability to know where the buck stops between the city, prime contractors and subcontractors.

Foote’s protest notwithstanding, the selection of IMS came with relatively little controversy compared to other professionalservices contracts that have gone before the city council in recent months. These include

an agreement to remove 305,000 tons of sludge from the Savanna Wastewater Treat-

conflicts because those firms would have overseen work they previously completed.

IMANI KHAYYAM

Wednesday, December 16 The Recording Industry Association of America and Michael Jackson’s estate announce that Jackson’s album “Thrillerâ€? has sold 30 million copies in the United States, making Jackson the first artist to attain 30-time multiplatinum status. ‌ The first trial in the death of Freddie Gray ends in a mistrial, with jurors saying they can’t determine whether Baltimore police officer William Porter was criminally responsible for Gray’s death.

Mayor Tony Yarber checked off quite a few items from his agenda, including the hiring of 1-percent sales tax program manager and a vendor for a new open-data portal, as well as getting the City Hall guest WiFi back up and running.

ment Plant and switching health plans for city employees. For 1-percent sales tax projects, IMS will help develop a comprehensive infrastructure plan—a 20-year blueprint to overhaul of the City’s infrastructure system of roads, bridges as well as water, sewer and drainage systems. IMS will also provide geographic information system mapping and handle the public relations and outreach.

Yarber said IMS did not receive the top score from the City’s evaluation committee, but two companies that scored higher had

So far, taxpayers have generated approximately $21 million from the 1-percent tax that voters approved through a referendum in early 2014. The first year of the tax added up to $15.1 million and is designated to begin repairs on some 2,000 miles of roadway, 881 miles of water main and 1,000 miles of sewer pipe.

A Test for Openness Despite the lack of surface tension over bringing IMS on board, it serves

ON OUR OWN TERMS

T

he real-estate site Estately said Mississippi’s top Google search term for 2015 was “Ashley Madison,� a website designed to make philanderering easy that got hacked this year. Other top hits were: U.S. Supreme Court, B.B. King, Bobbi Kristina Brown, Common Core State Standards Initiative, Fox News’ Megyn Kelly and—not even kidding—booty. Given the buzz around this year’s elections, perhaps it says something about our state’s priorities that Initiative 42 and Phil Bryant couldn’t manage to beat booty. In fact, we’re surprised that none of these made Mississippi’s list of most-Googled terms:

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¹) DON´T WANT ANYONE TO THINK WE ARREST TWO PEOPLE AND THINK THE WATER REVENUE ISSUES ARE SOLVED 4HIS IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG ²

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JPD Uses Fedsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Technology to Fight Crime, Breaks Water Theft Case

T

Vance and other JPD brass said the combination of NIBIN and increased patrols in northwest Jackson are responsible for a reduction of violent crimes compared to the same period last year. In all, violent

crimes saw a 3.1-percent reduction for the period ending Dec. 13. Vance believes the stats address a popular misconception that

Forget it, Jake. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jacktown.

Although no guns were used in the commission of the crimes, JPD was also integral to the arrests of two men charged with embezzlement for water theft. Mayor Tony Yarber said the public-works employees were arrested Dec. 15.

Marcus Banks, 35, is charged with felony embezzlement of $14,000 in water that he never paid for going back to 2008. Percy Watkins, 48, is charged with misdemeanor embezzlement because authorities have not been able to determine the value of the water he is accused of stealing.

In both cases, City officials say the men, who worked in the field as water-meter installers, are accused of stealing water at their private residences. On Dec. 18, the City announced five more people were terminated; officials have said that up to 30 people in all could be fired before the investigation ends. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People might say these are the low people on the totem pole,â&#x20AC;? Yarber told the city council Tuesday, Dec. 15. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They were the low people on the totem pole until you start messing with older folks. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a vulture at that point.â&#x20AC;?

Yarber was alluding to the fact that

public-works officials have received complaints from elderly residents that water shut-off workers attempted to â&#x20AC;&#x153;hustleâ&#x20AC;? homeowners into paying them â&#x20AC;&#x153;to hook them up,â&#x20AC;? as Vance put it. Loss of water has been a nagging problem for Jackson. In addition to losing as much as 40 percent of its treated water to leaky and failing pipes, ways around paying a City water bill are an open secret.

In February, Raftelis Financial Consultants, a firm the City hired to audit its water revenue, found after a review that the potential for fraud exists at the water-billing department in a number of ways.

These included field tampering, falsified meter reads and disconnected bribes, as well as payments made at the water-billing department that were not deposited into the bank. Subsequently, the Jackson City Council hired retired officials from the Internal Revenue Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation to probe the water-collections department. Ward 4 Councilman Deâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Keither Stamps said last week that the probe is ongoing and looks at deeper systemic issues in the water department. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want anyone to think we arrest two people and think the water-revenue issues are solved,â&#x20AC;? Stamps said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is just the tip of the iceberg.â&#x20AC;?

Comment www.jfp.ms. Email R.L. Nave at rlnave@jacksonfreepress.com.

in some ways as a test of a promised era of openness and transparency in the way City government operates.

Ward 6 Councilman Tyrone Hendrix has put forth a slate of proposals to increase transparency with subcontractors and professional-services agreements; another proposed ordinance codifies an executive order Yarber signed over the summer.

The ordinances went to the councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rules Committee last week, but City Council President Melvin Priester Jr. took the opportunity to ask IMS about its subcontractors.

Rod Hill, an IMS co-founder and principal, said the company subcontracted out to four firms, including Jackson-based TMHall and Advanced Environmental Consultants to handle permitting, regulatory and compliance issues; ATI is overseeing public education and outreach; and QSI will perform hydraulic modeling work. A national firm, Kansas City, Mo.-based Burns McDonald, is also on the project to consult on environmental design is-

sues, but Hill said the company would not do a significant amount of work.

Together, the subcontracts represent 40 percent of its contractâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;approximately $356,000â&#x20AC;&#x201D;of IMSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; total contract.

Hendrix points to New Orleans as a model for subcontractor reform. In June 2010, the New Orleans City Council enacted an ordinance requiring contractors to disclose its subcontractors, and how much theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re paid, after a series of high-profile corruption convictions of top officials and their associates.

In 2008, a political insider named Stan Barre was sentenced to five years in federal prison for taking kickbacks from subcontractors looking to do business with the City of New Orleans. Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin was convicted on 21 corruption charges related to taking bribes from contractors, including a 2004 Hawaii vacation paid for by a city subcontractor.

Yarber has said his office does not di-

rectly engage subcontractors, but that several layers of oversight are in place to make sure everything is above board. In response to a JFP editorial calling for increased subcontracting transparency, Yarberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office wrote: â&#x20AC;&#x153;While we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get involved in negotiating the prime contractorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s subcontracts, we do require roles and responsibilities of all subcontractors and a utilization plan so that it is understood how those subcontractors and subconsultants will be used. The utilization plan is tied to the Equal Business Opportunity Plan, if applicable. Additionally, the contractor must submit progress reports, including the percent complete and the EBO status report, to the City with invoices.â&#x20AC;?

In the meantime, the City also approved an agreement with Seattle-based Socrata for its months-in-the-works open-data portal. Jackson does not have to pay for the service for one year; after that, the City will be responsible for a maintenance fee. The

portal is part of a $42 million Bloomberg Philanthropies initiative.

The system will work in tandem with another system called OpenGov, a government budget-tracking system. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You can be anywhere in the world and see what the City of Jackson is doing with city financing and city funds,â&#x20AC;? Yarber said.

OpenGov will cost the City approximately $21,000 per year. Hendrix said management of the system will be governed in part by an open-data ordinance he proposed to give Yarberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s executive order some teeth.

Another layer of oversight will be the Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s open-data governance committee, which will perform regular checks to make sure departments are uploading the necessary documents, including executed contracts.

Disclosure: JFP news editor R.L. Nave serves on the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s open-data governance committee.

Comment at www.jfp.ms. Email R.L. Nave at rlnave@jacksonfreepress.com.

IMANI KHAYYAM

he brass at the Jackson Police Department are crowing about ending 2015 with crime in a continued free fall and some new technology helping officers solving crime.

Since the summer, JPD has â&#x20AC;&#x153;aggressivelyâ&#x20AC;? used the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, a national database of digital images of spent bullets and cartridge cases found at crime scenes and test-fired from seized weapons The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives manages the program and provides the equipment for crime labs around the country; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s free for JPD. Chief Lee Vance explained to the Jackson Free Press that officers would sometimes respond to shots-fired calls but if there was not a victim, they had little to investigate.

Now, he said, officers can collect shell casings, run them through NIBIN and if thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a violent crime involving a gun, police can compare shell casings from the crime to the information in the database. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A NIBIN hit report has many potential tactical and strategic uses for law enforcement. Law enforcement investigators can use it to link crimes, which can help to identify suspects. They can also use it to understand patterns of gun crime, such as gun sharing and trafficking,â&#x20AC;? a 2013 report from the National Institute of Justice states.

Police Chief Lee Vance said the department is using digital-imaging technology from the feds that helps compare shell casings in different crimes.

JPD is indifferent to crime in the capital city. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People ask what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing about crime,â&#x20AC;?

Vance said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re catching bad guys.â&#x20AC;?

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by R.L. Nave

7

TALK | state

When the Law ÕÀÌÃÊÌ iÊ6Õ iÀ>L iÊ

by Arielle Dreher

8

Organizing for Change The Mississippi Working Interdisciplinary Networks of Guardianship Stakeholders Committee formed this past summer after Mississippi received

a $7,000 grant largely due to the work of Henley and Ta’Shia Gordon, a deputy director with the Administrative Office of the Courts in Mississippi, who has seen how difficult it is for courts to track

instead of realizing people with disabilities are just as unique as you and I,” Duffy said. “(People with disabilities) are likely to have different levels—yeah, they might need help in a real-estate transacIMANI KHAYYAM

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D

esiree Henley knew Mississippi’s guardianship and conservatorship laws were outdated, ineffective and likely stripping elderly and disabled citizens of their basic human rights.

The problem was and still is that few people know that.

Henley, an associate law professor at the University of Mississippi, took action last year and helped the Mississippi Administrative Office of the Courts apply for a grant to establish a committee to raise awareness and work to change Mississippi’s antiquated guardianship and conservatorship laws.

Guardianship laws allow—and, in some cases, require—the courts to appoint guardians for people deemed no longer able to make decisions for themselves, usually elderly people diagnosed with illnesses or people with disabilities.

When a person is deemed incompetent to perform self-care, he or she becomes a ward of the state, and under Mississippi law, a court appoints a guardian to take care of their personal affairs.

Mississippi’s conservatorship laws allow for the appointment of an individual to handle the assets and finances of a ward of the state. But in Mississippi, a guardian or conservator can handle both a ward’s assets and personal affairs at the same time.

Therein, Henley says, lies the problem.

“The conservatorship and guardianship (laws) require an annual report about the money but not about the person (the ward) themselves,” Henley said. “There’s no requirement to report to court about how the person is doing, where they’re living, whether they are getting an education—the court has no idea what’s going on with the actual person.”

The guardianship laws in Mississippi, in essence, fail to safeguard and protect the ward’s personal well-being, requiring reports about their assets that sometimes disappear with mismanagement or a guardian taking advantage of the person, Henley said.

8E³7LME +SVHSR E HITYX] HMVIGXSV [MXL XLI 1MWWMWWMTTM %HQMRMWXVEXMZI 3JßGI of the Courts, speaks at the Mississippi Working Interdisciplinary Networks of Guardianship Stakeholders Committee at the Mississippi Supreme Court on Dec. 11.

cases in her time working in three different chancery courts.

The committee, called WINGS for short, had its second official meeting Dec. 11 to discuss problems with the current law and public awareness.

A group of lawyers, advocates, students, judges and state department officials met the full day to form sub-committees and develop strategies.

Kim Duffy, an attorney with the ARC of Mississippi that advocates for people with disabilities, presented her strategies. She says so many cases go awry due to a “one size fits all” way the legal system treats guardianship cases.

Mississippi’s guardianship laws do not embrace the “person-centered” approach necessary when thinking about making an individual a ward of the state, Duffy said.

“It’s been a one-size-fits-all approach

tion, but in day-to-day life they can make sound decisions on their own with a little bit of support.”

Making a person a ward of the state takes away their rights as a person, and guardianship should really be a last resort only, Duffy said. She agrees with Henley that the law needs to be changed. To help move the WINGS committee’s research forward, Henley enlisted the help of six law students in her legislation and policy course to help research what laws in other states, as well as what data are available in Mississippi.

Henley and her students found that plenty of other states have problems ensuring that guardians do not violate people’s rights.

However, many states have updated their laws. This year, Florida began overhauling its guardianship statutes to require guardians to act in good faith, as

well as explicitly prohibiting the abuse, neglect and exploitation of wards. Florida’s legislation also create a new office to conduct investigations and take disciplinary action if needed.

“Mississippi is kind of behind,” Henley said. “We are a decade or more behind in a movement to make these reforms.”

When Guardianship Goes Awry Henley studied the case of a young man who fell at his job when he was a young adult and suffered a brain injury.

His father became the guardian, but the son began to recover and heal.

He eventually got married and had his own family and was able to lift his father’s guardianship over his personal well-being. But when he tried to lift his father’s power over his assets, the court refused because his estate had gotten smaller after he’d changed parts of his home and had an encounter with law enforcement.

The young man was deemed to still have mental weakness, and his father’s guardianship remained. Duffy has seen this happen to clients before. At ARC of Mississippi, she advocates for those who have their rights taken away or not restored. WINGS will help bring awareness to stakeholders including judges, attorneys and advocates of how important it is to share ideas and efforts of people who “see the weaknesses in our system.”

Access to data is one weakness Gordon looks forward to addressing in the Mississippi court system. Mississippi law only require the ward’s asset reports, which are due annually.

Some counties know the number of guardianship or conservatorship cases within their boundaries, but the total number of cases is not aggregated statewide because the court system hasn’t finished going electronic, and some districts are still sending paper records to her office.

Gordon said WINGS is a long-term project and that changing guardianship laws will help everyone involved in the process.

“It would help judges and the community—and really it will help people who need it most,” Gordon said.

Comment at www.jfp.ms. Email news tips and story ideas to Arielle Dreher at arielle@jacksonfreepress.com.

TALK | education

State Superintendent: Take Test Results Seriously

3TATE 4OTALS FOR 4EST 3CORES ON 0!2## %XAMS 'RADES

by Arielle Dreher

(1*/,6+

LEVEL 2:

21.3%

LEVEL 3:

24.3%

25.7%

LEVEL 4:

LEVEL 5:

LEVEL 4:

LEVEL 5:

27.3%

1.4%

0$7+

Total Test-Takers: 37,537 LEVEL 1:

LEVEL 2:

11.4%

0

LEVEL 3:

23.8% 20

31.7% 40

29.9% 60

3.2%

80

100

4th Grade (1*/,6+

Total Test-Takers: 36,161 LEVEL 1:

LEVEL 2:

14.1%

LEVEL 3:

23.7%

32.5%

LEVEL 4:

LEVEL 5:

LEVEL 4:

LEVEL 5:

26.6%

3.1%

0$7+

Total Test-Takers: 36,185 LEVEL 1:

LEVEL 2:

10.6%

0

LEVEL 3:

28.4% 20

33.8% 40

26.1% 60

1.1%

80

100

5th Grade (1*/,6+

Total Test-Takers: 36,064 LEVEL 1:

LEVEL 2:

13.5%

LEVEL 3:

27.1%

31.4%

LEVEL 4:

LEVEL 5:

LEVEL 4:

LEVEL 5:

27.2%

0.9%

0$7+

Total Test-Takers: 36,050 LEVEL 1:

LEVEL 2:

10.4%

0

LEVEL 3:

29% 20

35.5% 40

23.7% 60

1.4%

80

100

6th Grade (1*/,6+

Total Test-Takers: 35,224 LEVEL 1:

LEVEL 2:

11.6%

LEVEL 3:

24.5%

34.6%

LEVEL 4:

LEVEL 5:

LEVEL 4:

LEVEL 5:

27.2%

2.1%

Total Test-Takers: 35,209 LEVEL 1:

LEVEL 2:

12.7%

0

LEVEL 3:

29.2% 20

33.6% 40

23% 60

1.5%

80

100

7th Grade Total Test-Takers: 35,851 LEVEL 1:

LEVEL 2:

16.1%

LEVEL 3:

23.5%

29.2%

LEVEL 4:

LEVEL 5:

LEVEL 4:

LEVEL 5:

25.9%

5.3%

Total Test-Takers: 35,817 LEVEL 1:

LEVEL 2:

10.5%

0

LEVEL 3:

34.2% 20

35% 40

19.1% 60

1.1%

80

100

8th Grade Total Test-Takers: 35,754 LEVEL 1:

LEVEL 2:

16.2%

LEVEL 3:

23.3%

29.5%

LEVEL 4:

LEVEL 5:

LEVEL 4:

LEVEL 5:

28.2%

2.9%

Total Test-Takers: 35,714

0

LEVEL 1:

LEVEL 2:

18.8%

LEVEL 3:

26.8% 20

26.2% 40

26.2% 60

80

2%

100

SOURCE: MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

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Budget Committee’s budget recommendation, the Mississippi Adequate Education Program received the same amount of funding as last year. That means public schools remain underfunded by approximately $200 million.

Wright asked for increased funding for teacher trainings back in the fall during legislative budget hearings, and she said the department plans to provide professional development to MDE staff in the coming year.

Districts, however, will have to provide training on their own or use the teaching coaches assigned to certain lowperforming districts in the face of proposed budget cuts.

After this year, MDE will introduce its own assessments that officials say will match if not exceed the rigor of the PARCC assessments, thus making scores released publicly today a new baseline for third- through eighth-grade students in the state of Mississippi.

“Districts need to be taking this very seriously. Districts need to be drilling

LEVEL 1:

0$7+

also the final installment of PARCC, a testing consortium the state is leaving after just one year.

Each student took an English language arts test, as well as a mathematics exam. The test results were ranked on a scale of 1 to 5 with a 1 being the lowest and 5 the best.

On average, almost 60 percent of all Mississippi students scored at a level 3 or higher. However, those scores vary widely when broken down into separate districts and grades.

“We have a long way to go, but at least this is a pretty good foundation,” State Superintendent Carey Wright said during a Dec. 16 conference call with reporters.

Dr. J.P. Beaudoin, chief of research at the Mississippi Department of Education, told media in a conference call that Level 3 students are approaching expectations and know a significant amount of content, but they might need some additional assistance.

The department’s strategy for improving test scores largely relies on profes-

Total Test-Takers: 37,502

(1*/,6+

FLICKR/ USAG HUMPHREYS

Sixty percent of Mississippi’s students, grades 3 through 8, scored at or above the average level on math and English assessments released Dec. 17.

3rd Grade

0$7+

Budget Woes MDE could run into roadblocks expanding teacher training under the constraints of proposed state budget cuts. This week, in the Joint Legislative

down to (data for) individual children,” Wright said. “Who are the children that are scoring at 1 or 2, and where are they instructionally, and how do we change instruction to fit their needs?”

On Dec. 15, the committee released its proposed fiscal-year 2017 budget plan that cut the department’s budget for general-education programs—the part of the budget that funds the Literacy Initiative and Assessment, including teacher trainings. MDE asked for $189 million for the general-education segment of the budget alone; in the legislative budget office’s recommendation, MDE would receive only $170 million literacy initiatives.

Wright said she asked for increased funding for teacher trainings back in the fall during legislative budget hearings, and that the department plans to provide professional development to their own staff in this coming year. Districts, however, will have to provide training on their own—especially now in light of recent proposed cuts.

Last year, the Legislature did fund teaching coaches for struggling school districts. Wright said, for now, school districts should really utilize their coaches, especially to help students who scored at Levels 1 and 2.

Students need to be caught up despite the state leaving the consortium because Mississippi’s own standards will meet or exceed PARCC standards.

The state’s learning standards went through a series of changes and review in recent months. A committee of teachers, administrators and parents has released suggested changes to the standards.

On math tests, the committee wants to add specific details to standards (for example, putting “addition and subtraction of integers” in the standards for grades 6 to 8) as well as rewrite other standards for clarity.

The committee asks that learning standards include glossaries of terms for the English language arts exams. From the most recent public-comment period, 90 percent of Mississippians approve of the updates to the standards.

The committee’s latest edited standards are available for public comments until Jan. 12, 2016.

All results can be found at www.mde. k12.ms.us/MCCRS/parcc.

Comment at www.jfp.ms. Email Arielle Dreher at arielle@jacksonfreepress.com.

(1*/,6+

sional development and teacher training.

Wright pointed to the findings of an independent consulting firm showing that what teachers learn in the trainings are used in their classrooms.

0$7+

M

ississippi’s second round of testing for third through eighth graders left room for improvement and growth, top state education officials said.

It was most of the students’ first exposure to the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers exams, an assessment that was intended to align with Mississippi’s college- and career-readiness standards. The tests were

9

Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t We All Get Along?

M

iss Doodle Mae: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jojo, our fearless leader, continues his â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;You Know the Routineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; approach to the holidays. The staff at Jojoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Discount Dollar Store will execute the final phase of the routine to respectfully serve financially challenged customers by selling products at very affordable prices. Currently, the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Half Dollar Item Binâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; near aisle 7-1/5 is the most popular sales area for quick, affordable gifts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Miss Wanda, our newly hired senior greeter and assistant store display manager, has organized an entertainment and product sales extravaganza at aisle 7-1/5. Expect a lot of old-school Christmas music performed by the Too Funky Feets Break It Down Band and a repeat performance of scenes from Chief Crazy Brotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s play, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;An AfricanAmerican Santa Claus Celebrates Kwanzaa.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The Too Funky Feets Break It Down Band will sell affordable copies of their long-titled Christmas CD called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Despite Turmoil, Violence and Unrest in the World, Santa Claus Is Not Afraid to Go Straight to the Ghetto.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jojo decided to add to his holiday routine a cultural awareness session titled â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t We All Get Along During the Holiday Season?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The purpose of this session is to promote peace and good will among all people. Representatives from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities, as well as other groups interested in having peace talks, will share their opinions, feelings and insights with Jojoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Discount Dollar Store customers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Also, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget the Christmas After Store-Closing Party and Hot Wing Happy Hour at Clubb Chicken Wing. You know the routine.â&#x20AC;?

Why Our Bond Rating Is Important

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° 5 3 3EN 4HAD #OCHRAN IN A PRESS RELEASE ON HIGHLIGHTS FOR -ISSISSIPPI IN #ONGRESS´ BUDGET FOR &9

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Why it stinks: As citizens of Jackson, reading the Senate Appropriations Committee chairmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s press release about all the goodies heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bringing back to Mississippi is like reading your parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; will and finding out you got their 1994 Ford Taurus. Sure, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s better than nothing, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll probably put it to good use. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that we were expecting â&#x20AC;Ś more. Remember how African Americans in Hinds County delivered Cochran from the jaws of defeat in his 2014 re-election campaign, and everybody hoped it might pay off in the form of a fat congressional allocation from Thad?

The University of Mississippi Medical Center and Jackson State University got a liâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l something something. Hawkins Field is mentioned in the press release. Youth Build, a national program that helps train young people for construction careers and has an office in Jackson, got $84.5 million all together. With everything the capital city is going through right nowâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a $400-million EPA consent decree, deteriorating streets, high unemploy10 mentâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Thad could have delivered a little more for Jackson.

hile crime, potholes and boiled-water notices get all the headlines and make for easy punchlines, one of the biggest problems facing the capital city is rarely discussed outside of City Hallâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Jacksonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bond rating.

Like the credit rating we all have and that lenders use when deciding whether to loan us money and, more importantly, how much they will charge in interest, a cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bond rating can have a direct impact on the quality of life for people who live there.

Last month, in what has almost become ritual, Moodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s downgraded the City of Jacksonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s credit rating. Basically, this means that borrowing money will be more expensive in the long term, and the City will have to sacrifice a few nice-to-haves for some must-haves.

For example, in the event of a catastrophic infrastructure failure that threatens public health and safety, Jackson may have no choice but to borrow money. In terms of things that are nice to have, the bond rating means that developers looking around the country to do smart public-private projects might overlook Jackson because we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford to put up our share of the money.

Like many people who end up in debt because of medical bills and unforeseen family disruptions, many of Jacksonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fiscal struggles are not of the Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s making. As Moodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s points out, years of outmigration and high levels of poverty,

which the recession exacerbated, are a strain for many cities, not just Jackson.

Redeveloping Farish Street alone will not get us out of the hole. The City has to have revenue. This means, the City must ensure that it is collecting all the revenue it should be collecting, including for treated water.

Getting rid of public-works employees running side hustles is a good first step, but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only part of the solution. If the City follows through and fires 20 to 30 more water-department workers, it should be advertising for their replacements and beefing up its collections efforts now.

The other thing Moodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s said could improve the economic outlook for Jackson is substantial tax-base growth. A popular mantra around City Hall is taking care of people who already live in Jackson, which is necessary.

But the City must also help create a climate so that people who live here help out with marketing by encouraging friends and family to move back to Jackson, as well.

It would help to make sure weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re taking full advantage of federal programs like the Museum to Market Trail that pay for amenities to attract smart, active people that Jackson wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to pay for out of pocket.

Most of Jacksonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elected officials seem interested in being good stewards of the publicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finances. Now, we have to think beyond belt-tightening and keep looking for ways to grow Jackson.

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.

FUNMI â&#x20AC;&#x153;QUEENâ&#x20AC;? FRANKLIN Be Careful What You Ask For

EDITORIAL News Editor R.L. Nave Assistant Editor Amber Helsel Reporter Arielle Dreher JFP 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 Brenemen Advertising Designer Zilpha Young Staff Photographer Imani Khayyam ADVERTISING SALES Advertising Director Kimberly Griffin Sales and Marketing Consultant Myron Cathey Sales Assistant Mary Osborne BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS Distribution Manager Richard Laswell Distribution Raymond Carmeans, Clint Dear, Michael McDonald, Craig Moore, Ruby Parks Bookkeeper Melanie Collins Assistant to the CEO Inga-Lill Sjostrom Operations Consultant David Joseph ONLINE Web Editor Dustin Cardon Web Designer Montroe Headd

CONTACT US: Letters letters@jacksonfreepress.com Editorial editor@jacksonfreepress.com Queries submissions@jacksonfreepress.com Listings events@jacksonfreepress.com Advertising ads@jacksonfreepress.com Publisher todd@jacksonfreepress.com News tips news@jacksonfreepress.com Fashion style@jacksonfreepress.com Jackson Free Press 125 South Congress Street, Suite 1324 Jackson, Mississippi 39201 Editorial (601) 362-6121 Sales (601) 362-6121 Fax (601) 510-9019 Daily updates at jacksonfreepress.com

The Jackson Free Press is the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s awardwinning, locally owned newsweekly, with 17,000 copies distributed in and around the Jackson metropolitan 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 management of Jackson Free Press Inc. Š Copyright 2015 Jackson Free Press Inc. All Rights Reserved

I

We have all colors & ages

spent many years praying for the one thing I thought I needed. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve studied myself, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve researched family traits. I concluded that I simply do not have patience and, if I had it, my life would be different.

I spent a decade or so in a job I loved. I could contribute the special parts of who I am to the well-being of strangers I felt like I knew. Mostly women, they were struggling to make ends meet or beginning careers in the medical field. While I never wanted to be a medical professional, it was easy for me to relate to those who wanted to become certified nursing assistants because they are the beginning and the end for so many people.

They do so much of the work and get paid the least for it. They need to have the purest hearts and compassion. They have to come in daily and work long hours for people who couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care for themselves.

I felt that way when I began my career as an administrative assistant. I felt as if I was on the bottom of the barrel and that no one really cared about my dreams or ambitions. I knew I had so much more to offer than creating letters and handing them over to someone else to sign. I knew I could be more beneficial answering inquiries rather than taking messages and handing them off for someone else to return the calls.

I began to sulk into depression, and I lost my desire to achieve. No one noticed anyway. So I prayed for the patience to endure. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a choice.

I had to work even if it was torture to my spirit.

Then, fresh blood entered the office, and she asked me what I would do if I had the chance to do anything in the office. I simply replied, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know, but I would not be an assistant to anyone.â&#x20AC;?

I think she noticed that thing inside that certain people have and can see in others. I had something. I wanted to be better than I was. I wanted to connect to the people in my state, my city. I wanted to change lives, somehow.

It took a while, but finally the door opened.

Years passed. I mastered the particulars. I made plans, and I shared projects.

I was excited, and then I hit the brick wall of endless open promises again. I

needed patience to be able to just wait for God to do something so I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quit or lose it before he had time to move me or change the environment. I needed to learn how to just be still and wait for the universe to make its move.

I watched others come and go. I watched people being promoted and going to other positions. I prayed harder.

I actually sat in my vehicle every morning for five minutes trying to convince myself that it was all worth it and that the day would be a good one. My daily prayer: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lord, just give me patience to make it through.â&#x20AC;?

One day, I walked over to a coworkerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desk just to chat. I sat down, and soon tears rolled down my face. I was weary and worn. I was broken. I was defeated. She was likely my last stop on my way out the door for good.

I mentioned to her, a God-fearing woman, that I had been praying hard for years about this one thing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m supposed to be doing here,â&#x20AC;? I said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Is there more for me to learn? Is God just unhappy with my existence?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;What are you praying for?â&#x20AC;? she responded simply.

I will never forget my response. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Patience! I ask God for patience to be able to deal with this place. I ask God to help me endure the struggle of wanting more and being overlooked. He keeps telling me to be still, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s breaking me down.â&#x20AC;?

She smiled at me, much like a smile Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d seen from my mother many times. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Funmi, if you ask God for patience, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re asking for trouble, tribulations, trials. How do we learn patience without suffering? How do you learn how to endure without going through?â&#x20AC;?

I immediately stopped praying for patience. Not even a month later, I was given a promotion and an opportunity to learn something brand new.

Be careful that you are ready to receive what you are asking, whether for a new job or a new mate. Sometimes we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need what we want, and often we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what we need. Most importantly, be sure you are willing to go through what it takes to get it.

Funmi â&#x20AC;&#x153;Queenâ&#x20AC;? Franklin is a word lover, poet and advocate for sisterhood. She has a weakness for reality shows.

I had something.

I wanted to be better than I was.

If you are interested in fostering some kittens please call Kaarlon Mann

601-259-4254

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HIRING IN JACKSON 6C?6DE A 3C62FI 6=64EC:42=

Hiring an experienced substation foreman and journeyman â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Should have experience in steel erection, switch and equipment installation, conduit and control cable installation, ground grid installation, and have experience working in energized substations.

Also hiring an experienced Distribution and Transmission Lineman.

We are also in need of Civil Foreman & Carpenters experienced in heavy concrete pouring and Ă&#x20AC;QLVKLQJ RI GULOOHG SLHUV VSUHDG footers, large pads, containment walls, etc. This position also requires experience with anchor bolt placement and site layout using survey instruments.

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be closed 12/24 and 12/25

707 N Congress St., Jackson | 601-353-1180 .PO UISV 'SJ BN QN t 4VO BN QN

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Editor-in-Chief Donna Ladd Publisher Todd Stauffer

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by Bryan Flynn

COURTESY OLE MISS ATHLETICS

The University of Mississippi has several pieces to replace from last year’s NCAA Tournament team. Mississippi State University landed some big recruits, but new head coach Ben Howland has plenty of work to do. The University of Southern Mississippi is reeling from the mess that former head coach Donnie Tyndall left with NCAA violations. Meanwhile, Jackson State University’s NCAA hopes may once again be contained to winning the SWAC Tournament at the end of the season.

i>`Ê >V \ Andy Kennedy (217-126 overall, 196114 at UM entering 10th season) Óä£{ Óä£xÊÀiV À`\Ê21-13 overall, 11-7 SEC r >ÃÌÊ-i>à Ê,iV>« The Rebels were a deep team last season with three reliable stars in Jarvis Summers, LaDarius White and Stefan Moody. UM posted a nice 9-4 nonconference record and served notice to the rest of the SEC when the team pushed the University of Kentucky to the limit in an overtime loss. The Rebels struggled a LaDarius White bit after that loss to the Wildcats in conference play but hit their stride in late January and early February, winning six straight SEC games.

This team stumbled in the home stretch, losing four of its final games, including the first game against the University of South Carolina in the SEC Tournament. The Rebels were named one of the “First Four” teams. They had to play their way into the tournament but did so by beating Brigham Young University. UM looked worn out after its matchup against the Cougars and never could get going in its

>ÃÌÊ-i>à Ê,iV>« The Bulldogs won one fewer game last season than in 2013-2014 but won three more SEC games. The team started the 2014-2015 season with five straight wins, quickly followed with five straight losses. Last year’s team entered conference play with a 7-6 record, but things never really got back on track. The Bulldogs stumbled down the stretch losing six of their final seven games, including a first-round bounce from Auburn University in the SEC tournament. Mississippi State improved incrementally each season under former head coach Rick Ray, but it wasn’t fast enough to save his job. Óä£x Óä£ÈÊ"ÕÌ The Bulldogs restored some hope to Starkville after they went out and hired former University of California, Los Angeles coach Ben Howland. The new head Bulldog had success at both the University of Pittsburgh and UCLA. With the Bruins, he went to three straight Final Fours. He inherits a nice core of players, includ-

next game against Xavier University. The Rebels fell 76-57 to end the season. Óä£x Óä£ÈÊ"ÕÌ Ê If UM is going to make a run at the NCAA Tournament, Moody is going to need help, and an inside presence from Sebastian Saiz would help the Rebels.

The SEC might not have another coach that gets more out of his players than Kennedy. He will have to do one of his best coaching jobs to squeeze out a postseason bid this season. The Rebels have only missed the postseason twice under him so it wouldn’t be shocking to see this team in the NIT at the very least. Right now, it looks like a NCAA Tournament bid might be just out of reach. *Ài` VÌ Ê Last season, the SEC had five teams in the NCAA Tournament, with UM getting the last bid. The Rebels currently look like a middle-of-the-pack team in the conference.

This team will have to find a way to fight past colleges such as the University of South Carolina, Texas A&M University and the University of Kentucky to make a path to postseason play. UM will also have to contend with programs on the rise, such as Mississippi State and the University of Alabama. Kennedy and Moody are the keys to how far this Rebels team goes in March. The team has zero margin for error, but a NIT berth looks possible.

COURTESY MISSISSIPPI STATE ATHLETICS/KELLY PRICE

i>`ÊV >V \ÊBen Howland (402-208 overall, first season at MSU) Óä£{ Óä£xÊÀiV À`\ 13-19 overall record, 6-12 SEC record

ÕÀÀi ÌÊÓä£x £ÈÊÀiV À`\Ê9-2 overall ,>` \Ê93.7 FM Ài >\ÊC.M. Tad Smith Coliseum

ÕÀÀi ÌÊÀiV À`\Ê5-5 overall ,>` \ 105.9 FM Ài >\ Humphrey Coliseum

ing Gavin Ware, I.J. Ready and Craig Sword. He also made a splash landing with one of the top recruits in the nation, former Callaway High School star Malik Newman.

So far this season, three of the five Bulldog losses have come by six or fewer points. Newman was late to start the season with a foot injury, and if he can get in game shape while playing, the Bulldogs’ fortunes can improve dramatically.

Currently, four MSU players are scoring doubledigit points each game: Ware with 17.7, Sword with 13.3, Newman with 12.3 points and Ready with 11.4 points. If MSU is going to make the NCAA tournament this season, it will have to continue to improve and slowly turn the offense over to Newman. *Ài` VÌ Ê Howland made it clear to the rest of the SEC that MSU would be a force to reckon with when he landed Newman. That may help convince future

players to consider the Bulldogs, as I.J. Ready well. MSU hasn’t played in the postseason since the 2011-2012 season. While playing for the NCAA title would be nice, it wouldn’t be horrible if the Bulldogs just made the NIT. Still, overall, the future looks bright for MSU, even if this season doesn’t end in the postseason. more SPORTS, see page 15

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ome March, Mississippi might not see much madness. Right now, it looks like a postseason NIT berth might be the best any team does this season. This could be one of the biggest down years in college basketball for our state.

Every team seems to be in some sort of rebuilding mode or in a one-bid league for a NCAA Tournament berth. But one or more teams could always surprise us by the end of the season. It just seems highly unlikely at this point.

13

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i>`ÊV >V \ÊDoc Sadler (160-128 overall, 11-27 at USM, entering second season) Óä£{ Óä£xÊÃi>à \Ê9-20 overall, 4-14 Conference USA record

Khari Price

>ÃÌÊ-i>Ã Ê,iV>«Ê The 2014-2015 season already seemed to be a struggle for Southern Miss.

Then, the hammer fell as the NCAA found violations stemming from former coach Donnie Tyndall. After he left USM for the University of Tennessee in 2014, the NCAA found that the former head coach had assistant coaches complete homework for recruits, among other violations.

The Golden Eagles tried to make the best of a bad situation and even started the season with two straight wins. USM finished the non-conference slate at 5-6 before heading into Conference USA play.

Southern Miss decided on a postseason ban last season after the NCAA allegations came to light. The Golden Eagles began C-USA play with six straight losses before notching a win against North Texas University in overtime.

USM lost five straight games and even finished the game against Florida International University with just four players due to foul trouble. The Golden Eagles earned their second in-conference victory with a win over Florida Atlantic University. Southern Miss finished the season with losing three of their final five games, but the Golden Eagles recorded their second two-game winning streak with wins over the University of Texas at San Antonio and the University of Texas at El Paso.

USM finished the season with a loss to Louisiana Tech.

Óä£x Óä£ÈÊ"ÕÌ Things look as bleak for USM basketball this season as they did just three years ago for the university’s football program. The Golden Eagles are short on talent, and things won’t get any better until the NCAA rules on the program’s violations. USM is doing everything it can to ease the pain of the NCAA infractions and has self-imposed a second postseason ban on the program this year. Sadler will have to do some of his best coaching to even get this team one win this season.

Currently, only Khari Price is scoring in double digits for the Golden Eagles with 11.1 points per game, but Eddie Davis III and Kourtlin Jackson aren’t far off with 9.1 and 9 points per game, respectively.

So far, Southern Miss has only taken down North Dakota State University and South Alabama University, but the team also had a few close games, including a five-point loss to Ohio University and a three-point loss to Alabama. This season may be one to forget about in Hattiesburg and for Golden Eagle fans everywhere.

For all the wins Tyndall brought to Southern Miss during his time as head coach, he did as much damage to the basketball program as former coach Ellis Johnson did to the football program. Sadler will need plenty of time to repair things before and after the NCAA makes its ruling. It doesn’t appear like this will be an overnight fix.

One thing Sadler and the USM fans can take heart in is how the football program has bounced back this season. If Sadler is willing to stay at USM and rebuild, he could do something similarly special and bring Golden Eagle basketball out of a dark spot.

That something special just won’t happen this year. It may not happen next year. Or the next. Here’s hoping for better in the 2018-2019 season.

ÕÀÀi ÌÊÀiV À`\Ê4-8 overall ,>` \Ê95.5 FM Ài >\ Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center

>ÃÌÊ-i>Ã Ê,iV>«Ê The second season under Wayne Brent got off to a rocky start for the Tigers as they lost 11 of their first 13 games. Only victories over Jacksonville University and Southern Miss highlighted the nonconference slate.

The Tigers started conference play with wins in two of their first three games, though they hit a rough patch in conference play with three straight loses. After splitting their next two games, they scored three straight SWAC victories. JSU kept the momentum going but traded brief losing and winning streaks for the rest of the season. The team finished on a two-game losing streak and going 3-3 in its final six games. Jackson State ended the season with a loss against Prairie View A&M University in the SWAC Tournament. Óä£x Óä£ÈÊ"ÕÌ After winning just 11 games in his first two seasons, Brent and the Tigers are looking for a breakthrough in year three. Jackson State’s route to the postseason is through the SWAC Tournament, but resumé building could help with a NIT bid.

The Tigers have started out with a 4-8 record that includes wins over Southern Miss, Savannah State University, Fisk University and Blue Mountain College. Jackson State also played well in tough losses against Arkansas State University, Marquette University and Baylor University.

Currently, three Tigers are scoring in double digits. Paris Collins leads the way with 16.3 points per game; Chace Franklin is second in scoring with 11.8 points; and Raeford Worsham is third with 10.5 points.

Jackson State needed to finish out the nonconference slate strong, but only

Southeastern Louisiana State University remains after losses to Louisiana Tech University, Miami University of Ohio and Ohio University on the road. When the new year begins, SWAC play starts for the Tigers and their hopes for a tournament play in March. *Ài` VÌ Ê Raeford Worsham With luck and avoidance of the injury bug, JSU could be a factor in the SWAC race.

Preseason picks have the Tigers predicted to finish in the middle. JSU will have to battle Texas Southern University, Southern University, Alabama State University, Alabama A&M Universities and Prairie View A&M for the top spot.

Among those opponents, sports analysts widely picked Texas Southern to be the winner of the conference, and Southern closely followed it. But Brent has a nice mix of returning players and newcomers at JSU, putting his team in position to fight for the title. A victory in the SWAC Tournament means a bid into the NCAA Tournament. That is the only way to get a shot at the ultimate title, but a strong season could be the key to a NIT berth should the Tigers fall short of the automatic bid. more SPORTS, see page 16

COURTESY JACKSON STATE ATHLETICS

i>`ÊV >V \ÊWayne Brent (23-44 overall and at JSU, entering 3rd season at JSU) Óä£{ Óä£xÊÃi>à \Ê11-21 overall record, 9-10 SWAC record

ÕÀÀi ÌÊÀiV À`\Ê2-7 overall ,>` \Ê105.1 FM Ài >\ÊReed Green Coliseum

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COURTESY VASHA HUNT/AP/AL.COM

SPORTS, from page 13

15

the best in sports over the next seven days

SLATE

by Bryan Flynn

Both Mississippi State University and the University of Southern Mississippi play their bowl games in this week’s Slate. This will be the first appearance in both bowl games for both teams.

2016 Basketball Preview: The Smalls

by Bryan Flynn

Last season was a tough and strange one for Alcorn State University. Head coach Luther Riley took a personal leave of absence, leaving assistant coach Shawn Pepp to lead the team. The Braves finished with a 6-26 overall record and 4-14 record in SWAC play.

In March, Alcorn State decided not to renew Riley’s contract and hired Montez Robinson to take his place in April. Leading scorer LeAntwan Luckett also transferred to Louisiana Tech University in the offseason. Robinson will have to lean on All-SWAC First Team pick Marquis Vance to carry the load this season. Currently, Vance is leading the team in scoring with 10.7 points per game.

The Braves, who currently sit at 1-8, have played a very tough nonconference schedule this season, scoring their first win against Blue Mountain College on Dec. 14. They are picked to finish near the bottom of the conference. If injuries don’t derail the team, maybe it will be battled tested for conference play and surprise the rest of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

TOUGALOO ATHLETICS

THURSDAY, DEC. 24 NFL (7:25 p.m., NFLN): While you get ready for Santa to come down the chimney, watch an AFC West matchup with the Oakland Raiders hosting the San Diego Chargers.

SPORTS, from page 15

FRIDAY, DEC. 25 NBA (4-7 p.m., ABC): Enjoy this rematch of last year’s NBA finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors after opening your gifts.

SATURDAY, DEC. 26 College football (1-5 p.m., ESPN): Southern Miss takes on the Washington Huskies in the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl.

SUNDAY, DEC. 27 NFL (3-7 p.m., CBS): Could this be the last game in the Superdome for the Drew Brees-era New Orleans Saints as they face the Jacksonville Jaguars?

MONDAY, DEC. 28 NFL (7:30-11 p.m., ESPN): Witness a possible AFC-playoff preview in a battle of top NFL teams as the Denver Broncos host the Cincinnati Bengals.

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TUESDAY, DEC. 29 College basketball (7-9 p.m., SECN): The ninth-ranked Lady Bulldogs of Mississippi State host Southeastern Louisiana in their penultimate nonconference game.

16

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 30 College football (2:30-6 p.m., ESPN): Mississippi State takes on North Carolina State in the Belk Bowl.

The Bulldogs and Golden Eagles will try to end 2015 on positive note after both lost their final games of the season. Both teams exceeded most expectations this season in wins, but one more always helps.

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

Tougaloo College’s Quintarious Porter is currently averaging 20.1 points per game.

Mississippi Valley State University finished nearly identical to Alcorn State with a couple of exceptions. The Delta Devils lost one less game at 6-25 and won one more in conference play at 5-13.

This season, MVSU is picked to finish near the bottom of the league again. Head coach Andre Payne is getting no breaks in the schedule, at least for the out-of-conference slate. Currently, the Delta Devils are 0-13 after games against the University of Nebraska, New Mexico State University, Brigham Young University, the Air Force Academy and Northwestern University. The Delta Devils still have a game against the University of Hawaii on Dec. 29 left to play in the nonconference slate. MVSU might not have a win yet, but it does have two players scoring in double digits. Marcus Romain is averaging 17.3 points per game, and Damian Young is averaging 11.4 points per game. Much like Alcorn State, if the Delta Devils can stay healthy, they will be battle-tested come conference play.

Last season, Delta State University finished middle of the pack in the Gulf South Conference. The Statesmen finished 15-14 and lost in the opening round of the conference tournament.

This season, DSU is hoping to turn that around with last season’s GSC Freshman of the Year PJ Davis returning, and also fellow preseason All-GSC members Devin Schmidt and Jack Madgen.

Delta State head coach Jim Boone will try to guide this team to a better finish than its fourth-place projection in the preseason.

The Statesmen are currently 9-3 on the season with consecutive wins against the University of West Alabama, Christian Brothers University and Union University, though all three were close.

In their first season back at Division II, the Choctaws didn’t do half bad. Mississippi College finished the 2014-15 with an 11-13 overall record and was 9-13 in GSC play. The Choctaws hope to improve on that mark in their second season at the DII level, returning with four of their top-five scorers from last season.

Tory Rice, who averages 15.5 points per game, and Tristan Moore, who averages 14.1 points, currently lead the way for the Choctaws. Johnny Rucker is also scoring in the double digits with 13.5 points per game. Head coach Don Lofton will try to win his 200th game this season as he enters this campaign with 189 wins.

Currently, the Choctaws are 4-4 overall and 3-3 in GSC play, but either way, they won’t be able to play for a conference title until the 2016-2017 season, when their transition to DII is complete.

Entering his second year as the Belhaven University Blazers’ head coach, Jonathan Vines looks to improve on last year’s 12-20 overall record and 7-11 Southern State Athletic Conference record.

Belhaven transitions to Division III this year and joins the American Southwest Conference.

Four players lead a struggling Blazers squad this season: seniors Josh Gaskins (16.4 points per game), Josh Carpenter (15 points per game) and De’la Mayers (13.1 points per game), who were all on the ASC’s preseason watch list, and sophomore Dyron Anderson (10 points per game).

Belhaven is currently 1-7 on the season after starting with losses to Emory University and rival Millsaps College. The Blazers started ASC play with an overtime win against the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, which has been their first and only success so far.

Millsaps College will try to improve on last year’s 7-19 season, where the Majors went 7-7 at home but 0-12 in road games. Last year’s team was only 3-11 in Southern Athletic Association play and ended the season with a four-game losing streak.

This season has started out rocky for the Majors, as they are off to a 1-9 start after four straight losses to begin the season. Millsaps went 0-3 on the road from the start as the travel woes continued; however, the team did defeat Belhaven at home for its first win of the season. They followed that with five straight losses.

The Majors currently have one double-digit scorer this season— Marc Robertson, who is averaging 11.3 points per game.

Last season, Tougaloo College dug itself out from a slow start to get back to .500 basketball at 8-8 by late January. The Bulldogs finished the season 13-13 overall and 9-5 in Gulf Coast Athletic Conference play under first-year coach Thomas Billups. The season ended with a loss to Xavier University in the semifinals of the GCAC tournament.

Billups is back for a second season with the Bulldogs, who are currently 6-4, and he has some stars to lean on this year: Quintarius Porter, named Preseason All-GCAC Team, averages 20.1 points per game; De’Andre Scott averages 13.3 points; Jarmell Anderson averages 12.3 points; and Andravious Smith, GCAC preseason honorable mention, averages 12 points.

The Bulldogs are currently 6-4 on the season and have beaten three ranked foes. Tougaloo also took Alcorn State to double overtime in an exhibition game. Conference play hasn’t started yet for the Bulldogs, but they are going to be battled-tested before their first GCAC game. Tougaloo was picked to finish fourth in the conference in the preseason. more SPORTS, see page 18

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17

Howell Trophy Favorites

by Bryan Flynn

E

Stefan Moody, Guard, Mississippi Rebels Stefan Moody won the award last season with his impressive play down the stretch for the Rebels as he helped them get into the NCAA Tournament.

This year, Moody is the team leader and go-to scoring threat for the Rebels. He is currently averaging 23.8 points per game, up from the 16.6 points he averaged last season.

Twice this season, He has dropped 30 points for the Rebels in wins over Towson Universi-

by Bryan Flynn

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18

ill Werner didn’t want to wake up one morning and wonder what would have happened if he kept pursuing the game he loves: basketball. The 24-year-old athlete, fresh out of Southeastern Louisiana University, just had to figure out how to keep playing ball out of college.

Werner stood out in all of his athletic pursuits at Northlake Christian School in Covington, La. In his senior year in 2009, he helped the school baseball team win the state championship, led the football team in receptions and finished fourth in the state in high jump. The 5-feet, 11-inch, 165-pound guard also shone on the basketball court, where he put up 10.2 points, 8.3 assists, 7.4 rebounds, 3.1 steals and two blocked shots per game. Though he excelled in sports,

Stefan Moody of the University of Mississippi Rebels is currently averaging 23.8 points per game.

in a 68-62 loss to George Mason University and 13 points in a 75-63 loss to Seton Hall University. The Rebels go undefeated when Moody scores 20 or more points in a game.

Gavin Ware, Forward, MSU Bulldogs One player that has begun to shine under new head coach Ben Howland is Gavin

Werner says he didn’t get any offers after high school. “It was a small 1A school, and it was hard to stand out,” he says.

Werner tried to walk on at Southeastern Louisiana his freshman year and made it to the finals of tryouts. While he ended up not making the team, he did come out on top in the 2013 SLU Slam Dunk Contest.

Meanwhile, he played intramural football and basketball to get his competitive fix.

In 2014, Werner graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance, and he started managing at his father-in-law Duane Nay’s recreational-vehicle repair business. He still played in some leagues around town, but he always thought he could go farther in basketball and wanted to show the world his skills on the court. One night, Werner told his wife, Courtney Werner, that he wasn’t ready to close the door on the sport. She pushed him to try out for the River City League in Vicksburg.

“I didn’t want to have any regrets,” Werner says.

Werner began playing in the league this past summer, where he shone. As a result, General Manager Grant Worsley offered him a spot on this fall’s roster for the Jackson Showboats, a minor league team affiliated

Malik Newman, Guard, MSU Bulldogs Malik Newman was one of the most coveted players in the country and the best player in the state of Mississippi when he was in high school. He turned down offers from schools such as the University of Kentucky to play for Howland and the Bulldogs.

The former Callaway High School star missed the opening game of the season with a foot injury and has gotten off to a slow start. Newman has only averaged 12.3 points per game after averaging 29.7 points for the Chargers his senior season.

This season, Newman has been held under double digits in three of his eight appearances. He went for a career-high 18 points in a 72-67 loss to the University of

with the American Basketball Association. Werner has been searching for a job in the Jackson metro area so he can be a part of the community, as well as a player for the Showboats.

IMANI KHAYYAM

Will Werner

ty and the University of Massachusetts. The first-team All-SEC player has only been held under 20 points twice this season, and UM lost both games. He was held to 18 points JOSHUA MCCOY/OLE MISS ATHLETICS

ach season, I try to pinpoint the players who might be candidates for the Howell Trophy, which is the award that goes to the best men’s basketball player at a four-year college or university in the state of Mississippi.

A player from the University of Mississippi has won the award for the past three years, with Marshall Henderson winning in 2013, Jarvis Summers winning in 2014 and Stefan Moody winning the accolade last season. Moody is the preseason favorite, but that doesn’t mean he will earn an easy repeat. Mississippi State University has two possible candidates, Jackson State University has a strong player, and the rest of the players around the state will make their case.

Here are my early season favorites for this year’s Howell Trophy.

Ware, who has been with the Bulldogs since the lean years of the Rick Ray era.

Ware has come into his own this season, averaging 17.7 points per game—almost double his point total from last season.

He has scored 20 or more points in four of the Bulldogs’ 10 games. The Starkville native has three double-doubles this season, scoring 26 points and grabbing 13 rebounds against Eastern Washington, 22 points and 10 rebounds against the University of Tennessee at Martin, and 19 points and 11 rebounds against Texas Southern University.

MSU has been a perfect 3-0 whenever Ware put up a double-double so far this season, though the former 2013 SEC All-Freshman was held under 20 points in four of the five losses for the Bulldogs this season.

Will Werner is on this fall’s roster of Jackson Showboats players.

The left-handed guard’s performance on the court also earned him a tryout with the Memphis Grizzlies for their D-League affiliate, the Iowa Energy. While the tryout didn’t pan out, Werner was happy that it

Missouri-Kansas City, 17 points in a 74-72 loss to Texas Tech University, 15 points in a 105-79 loss to the University of Miami in Florida, 15 points in a 69-59 win against Tulane University, and 14 points in an 84-70 win over Missouri State University.

Paris Collins, Guard, Jackson State Tigers Paris Collins is in his first season at Jackson State after a stop at Des Moines Area Community College. The sophomore helped lead DMACC to a fourth-place finish in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II National Championship and was second on the team with 14.2 points per game. In his first season at JSU, Collins has been a major threat on offense, scoring in the double digits in nine of the Tigers’ 12 games. Collins has gone for 20 or more points in five games thus far.

The guard, who averages 16.3 points per game, led his team to a win against Blue Mountain College with 27 points, but he also had some of his best games in both of the Tigers’ overtime losses this season. Collins went for 21 points in an overtime loss to Tennessee Tech University and 25 points in a double-overtime loss to Louisiana Tech University. He has been held to single-digits scoring three times this season, with just three points against Arkansas State University, five points against Miami University from Ohio, and seven points against Marquette University. Out of all the players on this list, Collins is the dark horse to win the Howell Trophy this season.

got his name and game out to more people.

Even if he doesn’t catch on with a D-League team, Werner says he wouldn’t mind playing basketball for a foreign league.

“My wife wouldn’t mind going overseas,” he says. “She loves to travel.”

The goal, Werner says, is to make it onto an overseas team at least before he is 28 years old. He is also watching the style of play in other countries, where the fundamentals have a bigger emphasis and passing the ball is an even more important part of game play.

This season, Werner hopes to lead the guards in rebounds and score 20 to 24 points per game, but he feels his main objective is to make his teammates better. He says he gets as much excitement out of making the pass to the right open players as he does knocking down shots.

The Jackson Showboats play home games at Thomas Cardozo Middle School (3180 McDowell Road Ext.) against the Mobile Bay Tornados on Jan. 3, the Texarkana Panthers on Jan. 30 and the Bowling Green Bandits on March 5. General admission to Showboats games is $6. Kids under age 10, veterans and active military can attend for free. For more information, call 769-203-2108.

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LIFE&STYLE | food&drink

Bubbles Make Everything Better

by Julie Skipper

S

tion of origin), which is a designation that links a product closely with its geographical origin. Champagne’s basic types include blanc de blancs made exclusively from white grapes (say, 100 percent chardonnay); blanc de noirs made exclusively from red JULIE SKIPPER

omeone once asked Madame Lilly Bollinger (who managed Bollinger Champagne house from 1941 to 1971), “When do you drink Champagne?”

Her response was: “I only drink Champagne when I’m happy, and when I’m sad.

Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company, I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I am not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise I never touch it—unless I’m thirsty.”

I am fully on board with her sentiment; I see no reason to relegate it to special occasions. Bubbles make everything better, I say, and can turn any time into an occasion.

That being the case, I always eagerly anticipate BRAVO! Italian Restaurant’s annual Champagne and Sparkling Wine Tasting each December. This year’s event marked the 18th installment (and my sixth time to attend it). Over the years, it’s grown in popularity and become a tradition for so many folks that the BRAVO! team this year decided to do two tastings: one on Dec. 6 and another on Dec. 13.

At the Dec. 6 event, my man and I donned some casual-chic leather to set a celebratory mood and settled in.

Sommeliers Lesley McHardy, Kelly Boutwell and Norm Rush hosted the event.

After Rush welcomed everyone with an overview of sparkling wine, McHardy and Boutwell took over to walk us through the six offerings of the day.

Sommelier Norm Rush was one of the hosts for this BRAVO! Italian Restaurant’s Dec. 6 Champagne and sparkling wine tasting.

At the offset, we were reminded that while all Champagne is sparkling wine, not all sparkling wine is Champagne. That is, to be called Champagne, a bottle must be wine made from Champagne, the largest appellation d’origine contrôlée (controlled designa-

grapes; and rosé made from any combination of two or three of the varieties. (Rosé is a pink color because the juice is macerated with red-grape skins).

Our tasting included three sparkling

wines and three Champagnes.

Before beginning, McHardy noted that our tasting was from white-wine glasses. While confessing that this was actually because they didn’t have enough flute glasses on hand to accommodate the tasting, she explained that drinking sparkling wine from white wine glasses is actually a trend in the wine world these days. If you care about appreciating the nose (the aroma) of the wine, serving it in a regular wine glass allows more oxygen to enter the wine, so more of the aroma is released.

With preliminary matters out of the way, we were ready to taste. First up were three sparkling varieties: a prosecco (prosecco is the sparkling wine from Italy), a French brut reserve blend, and a cava (Spanish sparkling wine).

After that, we moved on to three Champagnes: a non-vintage Bollinger Special Cuvée Brut, a very bubbly blend of pinot noir and chardonnay; a creamy blanc de blanc and; to finish, a non-vintage rosé that smelled as pretty as it looked.

With a little more knowledge of bubbly, I left feeling ready for the holiday season, but also with tasting notes in hand so that I can incorporate more bubbles and celebration into life in general.

For more information on tastings at BRAVO! Italian Restaurant & Bar (4500 Interstate 55 N., 601-982-8111), visit bravobuzz.com.

Food News

Hong Kong Tea House

by Dustin Cardon, dustin@jacksonfreepress.com

20

COURTESY HONG KONG TEA HOUSE

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eoffrey Mo, together with his parents, Kathy shrimp dumplings, egg rolls, baked barbecue pork buns, hattan. At Hong Kong Tea House, customers can choose and David Mo, held a grand opening for their and rice rolls filled with beef, shrimp or pork. from a variety of hand-rolled sushi, as well as nagiri (raw new family-owned Chinese restaurant— fish over pressed vinegared rice) or sashimi (raw Hong Kong Tea House (4924 Interstate slices of fish without rice).

55 N., Suite 105)—Saturday, Dec. 5. The restauDavid and Kathy previously owned and operrant had its soft opening Nov. 19. ated another restaurant of their own, South China Hong Kong Tea House serves three differRestaurant in Natchez, for 26 years. They moved ent categories of Asian dishes: the type of standard to Jackson in August 2015, where Geoffrey has Chinese food many Americans are likely familiar been living since he moved here to attend Millsaps with, such as fried rice and various pork or seaCollege in 2005, to open the restaurant. food dishes; sushi, nagiri and sashimi; and a type Hong Kong Tea House is open 11 a.m. to Hong Kong Tea House has sushi, Chinese dishes that Americans are of Chinese cooking called dim sum.

9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m.

Dim sum involves serving a wide variety of familiar with and dim sum. to 10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Satursteamed or baked dishes that multiple diners share day; and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. For more communally on a revolving table. The Mos’ dim information, call 601-368-8623 or email hkteasum master, chef Siu Cheong Ho, has 26 years of expeHong Kong Tea House’s sushi chef, Yong Sheng housejackson@gmail.com. rience cooking dim sum in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Zhu—who goes by the name “Chef Hugo”—spent 10 Send food and business tips to dustin@jacksonfreepress.

Among the items available to share are steamed chicken or years working at a restaurant called Nana Sushi in Man- com. For more food coverage, visit jfp.ms/food.

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LIFE&STYLE | faith

Practice, Kindness and a Potato in Tibet Story and photos by Genevieve Legacy

I

was sleeping hard when a calf started bawling beneath the window of my room at the Samye Monastery Hotel in central Tibet. I’d been there for five nights and four days visiting the nunnery of Yeshe Tsogyal, (yea-shay so-gyal) an enlightened female practitioner born in eighth-century Tibet. It was the last morning that I would wake to

Enduring physical pain during it is considered a form of purification. The practices of traveling great distances by foot, sleeping outdoors in bad weather and prostrating every step of the way to a holy site seemed to induce pain. As a Western student of Tibetan Buddhism, I wanted to practice as a pilgrim but was unsure of the pain equals

The view from Yeshe Tsogyal’s hermitage at Chimpu in central Tibet

the sounds of the barnyard animals behind the hotel. I had 40 minutes to get dressed, finish packing and lug my suitcases to the lobby. I’d have to hustle—everything took longer at 11,000 feet.

I grabbed the bottle of water I’d left on the night stand, twisted the cap and gulped it down. Between the altitude and high desert climate, I was constantly thirsty. No matter how much I drank, fluids left my body as quickly as I could put them in. I needed to hydrate for the hike up the mountain at Chimpu—my first climb since the Potala Palace in Lhasa. Nearly a week after, my knee was better but still sore.

Apart from that, I’d done well—no altitude sickness, just spaced-out. I checked the time—30 minutes left to get it together.

Pilgrimage, from the Tibetan Buddhist point of view, is supposed to be challenging.

purification formula. Could I be a pilgrim with skepticism in tow?

Our group—also including three fellow pilgrims and our Tibetan guide and driver— left the hotel on time and began the 20-mile drive to Chimpu hermitage. The landscape of central Tibet was unbelievable, like driving through a National Geographic photo spread. Outside Samye, we turned on to the newly paved highway along the Tsangpo River. The two-lane road coursed a dramatic mix of imposing mountains, tumbled moraine and miles of sandy, dry riverbank.

As we drove downstream, the mountainside expanded and contracted, pushing the road out and around in a series of blind curves. The barren riverbed was piled high with windblown sand, forming a shifting field of traverse dunes. Framed beneath the endless sky at the top of the world, every

iVi LiÀÊÓÎÊ ÊÓ ]ÊÓä£xÊÊUÊÊ v«° Ã

22

view from every angle was spectacular.

Chimpu hermitage is an ancient mountain retreat where a hundred or so contemporary yogis, monks and nuns live in seclusion. A dirt path with long flights of stone stairway winds up the mountainside, past tiny retreat huts and boulder-sized mani stones incised with “Om Mani Padme Hum”: the mantra of Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion.

Visiting the caves along the upper ridge is said to bestow blessings, but that was not in my plan. I wanted to visit the cave where Tsogyal spent 12 years in retreat. The hike would be strenuous enough, about 4,000 vertical feet. Reciting the mantra of compassion, I put aside thoughts of distance and difficulty and began the climb.

Walking and breathing quickly turned into manual labor. To get enough oxygen, I had to work my lungs like baffles, and my hurt knee delivered a twinge of pain with every step. Determined to complete the practice, I limped along, stopping every 10 steps to catch my breath. Youthful nuns passed by, leaving me in the dust that trailed behind their maroon robes.

After two hours, I became unsteady with exhaustion. I stopped at a spring below the cave and drank all the icy water I could.

Starting up back up the path was like walking into a wall. Three hundred feet from Yeshe Tsogyal’s cave, my resolve was gone, replaced by constant, sharp pain in my leg and knee. For a few agonizing moments, I considered giving up. As if sensing my anxiety, an elderly nun emerged from her retreat hut near the path. Smiling, she offered me a boiled potato, a common food that monastics share. I picked a small, brown gift from her dented pot and thanked her with folded hands. Kindness and a potato propelled me forward.

Tsogyal’s hermitage was small, about 10 feet deep and 8 feet wide. Enclosed by

weathered stonewalls on three sides, her cave looked like an archaic shed with a tiny wooden door at the entrance.

Dizzy with relief, I stepped into the dim little room. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust, but I found the stone bench. With a bow of gratitude, I sat down opposite a small altar, illuminated by a row of butter lamps.

Hundreds of years of soot had black-

Mani stones at Chimpu hermitage in central Tibet

ened the cave walls. I imagined the countless number of candles and lamps that had lit the lonely stone room, the infinite number of mantras uttered in the darkness. I imagined the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who had followed the same path, made the same climb.

After a few moments, I stopped imagining and relaxed into the quiet of the cave. The oily lamps flickered; the silence expanded. With aching knees and arduous breath, determination and doubts, I rested in meditation and practice.

JFPmenus.com AMERICAN/SOUTHERN CUISINE Basil’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. PIZZA Sal & 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.

ITALIAN BRAVO! (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 DINING Eslava’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/GREEK Aladdin 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.

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

BARS, PUBS & BURGERS 4th & 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 INDIAN Fusion 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.

www.Underground119.com 119 S. President Street 601.352.2322

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23

WEDNESDAY 12/23

SATURDAY 12/26

WEDNESDAY 12/30

The Winter Holiday Express is at the William F. Winter Archives and History Building.

“Go Big, Origami Home!” is at the Mississippi Children’s Museum.

The Jackson Area Web & App Developers’ December Meet-up is at The Hive.

BEST BETS DEC. 23 - 30, 2015

Author Robert E. Luckett, director of Jackson State University’s Margaret Walker Center, signs copies of his book, “Joe T. Patterson and the White South’s Dilemma,” Wednesday, Dec. 23, at Lemuria Books.

The Rascalism Jackson Release is at 5:30 p.m. at LD’s Beer Run (5006 Parkway Drive). This event celebrates the release of Natchez Brewing Company’s first sour beer and the first of its Mississippi Wilde Ale series. Free admission; call 769-208-8686; find the event on Facebook. … Author Robert E. Luckett signs copies of “Joe T. Patterson and the White South’s Dilemma” at 5 p.m. at Lemuria Books (Banner Hall, 4465 Interstate 55 N., Suite 202). $65 book; call 601-3667619; email info@lemuriabooks.com; lemuriabooks.com.

THURSDAY 12/24

COURTESY SOULABRATION

The Jackson Giant Christmas Tree Sale is from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds (1207 Mississippi St.). All Seasons Events hosts this holiday tree sales events. A portion of every sale benefits Community Animal Rescue & Adoption. Prices vary; call 601-922-7575; carams.org.

iday Classic is at 10 p.m. at Hal & Mal’s (200 S. Commerce St.). The Christmas concert event includes performances from Dead Gaze and deejays Dent May and Martin Prophet.

Doors open at 9 p.m. For ages 18 and up. $5; find the event on Facebook. … Martin’s Annual Christmas Show is at 10 p.m. at Martin’s Restaurant & Bar (214 S. State St.). Robbie Peoples performs. Admission TBA; call 601-354-9712; email ryboltproductions@comcast.net; martinslounge.net.

SATURDAY 12/26

Soulabration 2015 is at 7 p.m. at Mississippi Coliseum (1207 Mississippi St.). Performers include Willie Clayton, T.K. Soul, Shirley Brown, Calvin Richardson, Big Pokey Bear and a special guest. Doors open at 6 p.m. $25, $45 reserved

BY MICAH SMITH tables; call 678-322-8098; ticketmaster.com. … Chapter 33: The Capricorn Affair is at 8:30 JACKSONFREEPRESS.COM p.m. at Center Stage (1625 E. FAX: 601-510-9019 County Line Road, Suite 410).

DAILY UPDATES AT Jeromie “KakeKing” Jones emJFPEVENTS.COM cees the pre-birthday celebration for Myron “DJ Energizer” Johnson and Byron Johnson of Energizer Entertainment. Enjoy comedy from Rita B., and music from Meika Shante’, Kerry Thomas and Jameka Franklin. BYOB. Must be 21. $10; call 769-218-7335 for table reservations (texts preferred); email energizerent@gmail.com.

COURTESY ROBERT LUCKETT

WEDNESDAY 12/23

with figure skaters, vocalists and actors. Additional dates: Dec. 23-26, 7 p.m. $13-$25; call 888-566-7469 or 800-745-3000; beaurivage.com.

MONDAY 12/28

The Kwanzaa Celebration of Unity is at 5:30 p.m. at Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center (528 Bloom St.). Women for Progress of Mississippi hosts the annual event. Free; call 601-960-1457; womenforprogress.net. … Ramen Night is at 6 p.m. at Saltine Oyster Bar (622 Duling Ave., Suite 201). Chef Jesse Houston serves housemade ramen. Featured flavors include vegetarian, turkey dashi, suckling pig and more. Free admission, dish prices vary; call 601-982-2899; saltinerestaurant.com.

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12/29 EVENTS@ TUESDAY The Planetarium Holiday Shows are at noon at Rus-

Singer Avail Hollywood performs for Soulabration 2015 on Saturday, Dec. 26, at Mississippi Coliseum.

FRIDAY 12/25

The Christmas Day Party is at 4 p.m. at McB’s Bar & Grill (815 Lake Harbour Drive, Ridgeland). Includes live music from Doug, Sonny and Friends. Free; call 601-95624 8362; find the event on Facebook. … The Cats Purring Hol-

SUNDAY 12/27

Santa & Friends on Ice is at 7 p.m. at Beau Rivage Resort and Casino (875 Beach Blvd., Biloxi) in the Beau Rivage Theatre. Enjoy a holiday-themed show

sell C. Davis Planetarium (201 E. Pascagoula St.). Options include “Lasers in Space,” “Let It Snow” and “Winter Holiday (Laser Adventure).” Additional dates: Mondays-Fridays, noon, Saturdays, 1 p.m. through Dec. 31. $6.50; $5.50 seniors; $4 children (cash or check); call 601-960-1550; thedavisplanetarium.com.

WEDNESDAY 12/30

EDM Night is at 9 p.m. at Big Sleepy’s (208 W. Capitol St.). Taboo Productions hosts the event featuring performances from SFAM, Taboo, DJ Uri, Rob Roy and DJ EZ Bake, with Videonauts providing a light and 3D-mapping visuals show. Doors open at 8 p.m. For all ages. $5 before 10 p.m., $10 after; call 601-863-9516; find the event on Facebook.

Winter Holidays Express Dec. 23, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., at William F. Winter Archives and History Building (200 North St.). Enjoy the festively decorated model train town of Possum Ridge.

Free; call 601-576-6850; mdah.state.ms.us.

Christmas Wishes Campaign Deadline Dec. 25, at Mississippi Children’s Home Services (1465 Lakeland Drive). Help fulfill holiday wishes for youth in foster care. Options includes gifts, story time and donating necessities. Donations welcome; call 769-777-1010; email kym.williams@ mchscares.org; mchscares.org.

pany’s first sour beer and the first of its Mississippi Wilde Ale series. Free admission; call 769-2088686; find the event on Facebook.

Ramen Night Dec. 28, 6 p.m., at Saltine Oyster Bar (622 Duling Ave., Suite 201). Chef Jesse Houston serves house-made ramen. Featured flavors include vegetarian, turkey dashi, suckling pig and more. Free admission, dish prices vary; call 601-982-2899; saltinerestaurant.com.

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Kwanzaa Celebration of Unity Dec. 28, 5:30 p.m., at Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center (528 Bloom St.). Women for Progress of Mississippi hosts the annual event. Free; call 9601457; womenforprogress.net.

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Annual Thelma Sanders Scholarship Dance Dec. 26, 8 p.m., at M.W. Stringer Grand Lodge (1072 John R. Lynch St.). Honorees are Drs. Richard and Edith Smith Rayford. Includes refreshments and music from Jessie Primer & Friends. Proceeds go to scholarships from the Jackson-Tougaloo Alumni Chapter of the Tougaloo College National Alumni Association. $30, $325 table of 10; call 601-925-4725; email donnadavis0503@gmail.com; jtacweb.org.

The Da Vincis Dec. 23, 8 p.m., at Duling Hall (622 Duling Ave.). The pop band gives a farewell performance after a nine-year run. Knowlton Bourne also performs. $5 in advance, $10 at the door, $3 surcharge for under 21; call 292-7999; email arden@ardenland.net; ardenland.net.

Jackson Area Web & App Developers December Meet-up Dec. 30, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at The Hive (Dickies Building, 736 S. President St.). Speakers include Matthew McLaughlin of Coalesce Coworking Space and AngularJS expert Joe Buza.

Enjoy pizza, beer and socializing before the presentations. Free; call 601-812-8166; meetup.com.

+)$3 Go Big, Origami Home! Dec. 26, 5-8 p.m., at Mississippi Children’s Museum (2145 Highland Drive). The event marking the close of Hello from Japan includes crafts, STEM stations, music and a visit from Mr. Snowman. Included with admission ($10, children under 12 months free); call 981-5469; mississippichildrensmuseum.com.

Events at Jackson Zoo (2918 W. Capitol St.) UÊ7 ÌiÀÊ > «\Ê ÌÊÌ iÊ Û ià Dec. 28, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The camp is for ages 6-12. Runs through Dec. 31. Registration required. Does not include lunch. $165, $150 members; call 601-352-2580, ext. 240; jacksonzoo.org/camp.

UÊ7 ÌiÀÊ Ê > «\Ê Ê ÃÊDec. 29, 10 a.m.-noon. The half-day camp is for ages 4-5. Runs through Dec. 31. Registration required. $65, $60 members; call 601-3522580, ext. 240; jacksonzoo.org/camp.

&//$ $2).+ Rascalism Jackson Release Dec. 23, 5:30 p.m., at LD’s Beer Run (5006 Parkway Drive). This event celebrates the release of Natchez Brewing Com-

12/23

SCOTT ALBERT JOHNSON 10 P.M

Planetarium Schedule Mondays-Fridays, noon, Saturdays, 1 p.m. through Dec. 31, at Russell 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.

Chapter 33: The Capricorn Affair Dec. 26, 8:30 p.m., at Center Stage (1625 E. County Line Road, Suite 410). Jeromie “KakeKing” Jones emcees the pre-birthday celebration for Myron “DJ Energizer” Johnson and Byron Johnson of Energizer Entertainment. Enjoy comedy from Rita B., and music from Meika Shante’, Kerry Thomas and Jameka Franklin.

BYOB. Must be 21. $10; call 769-218-7335 for table reservations (texts preferred); email energizerent@gmail.com.

WEDNESDAY

Cats Purring Holiday Classic Dec. 25, 10 p.m., at Hal & Mal’s (200 S. Commerce St.). The concert event includes performances from Dead Gaze and deejays Dent May and Martin Prophet. For ages 18 and up. $5; find the event on Facebook.

Soulabration 2015 Dec. 26, 7 p.m., at Mississippi Coliseum (1207 Mississippi St.). Performers include Willie Clayton, T.K. Soul, Shirley Brown, Calvin Richardson, Big Pokey Bear and a special guest. Doors open at 6 p.m. $25, $45 reserved tables; call 678-322-8098; ticketmaster.com.

EDM Night Dec. 30, 9 p.m., at Big Sleepy’s (208 W. Capitol St.). Includes performances

by SFAM, Taboo, DJ Uri, Rob Roy and DJ EZ Bake, with a light and visuals show by Videonauts. For all ages. $5 before 10 p.m., $10 after; call 601-863-9516; find the event on Facebook.

,)4%2!29 3)'.).'3 Events at Lemuria Books (Banner Hall, 4465 Interstate 55 N., Suite 202; call 601-366-7619; lemuriabooks.com.)

UÊ“Mississippi’s Greatest Athletes” Dec. 23, 1 p.m. Rick Cleveland signs books. $38 book.

UÊ“Bo: A Quarterback’s Journey Through an SEC Season” Dec. 23, 1 p.m. Billy Watkins signs books. $24.95 book.

UÊ“Crosscurrents and Other Stories” Dec. 23, 3 p.m. Gerry Wilson signs books. $14.95 book.

UÊ“The Teeth of the Souls” Dec. 23, 4 p.m.

Steve Yates signs books. $32.95 book.

UÊ“Joe T. Patterson and the White South’s Dilemma” Dec. 23, 5 p.m. Robert E. Luckett Jr. signs books. $65 book.

"% 4(% #(!.'% Feed the Homeless Day Dec. 26, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at Poindexter Park (200 Poindexter St.). Outsource Resources provides free meals to the homeless and less fortunate. Volunteers welcome. Free; email outsourceresourcesllc@gmail.com.

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.

FRIDAY

12/25

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UPCOMING SHOWS 12/31 - New Years Eve Blowout w/ Cedric Burnside Project 1/1 - Southern Komfort Brass Band (KICKING OFF THE NEW YEAR) 1/2 - Young Valley 1/8 - 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

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Springfield Strips Down

by Ken Hardy

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ong before the start of Rick Springfieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sold-out â&#x20AC;&#x153;Stripped Down Tourâ&#x20AC;? show at the Ameristar Casino in Vicksburg, excited guests formed a line from the entrance of the Bottleneck Blues Bar back toward the slot machines.

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ductions that appear on his new â&#x20AC;&#x153;Stripped Downâ&#x20AC;? album, which hit stores in February of this year. Springfield nailed the lead vocals while performing complex guitar work over backing tracks of other instruments and his own harmonies. Audience-engaging songs from his youth included â&#x20AC;&#x153;Me and Johnnyâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Painted Girl,â&#x20AC;? both predating songs KEN HARDY

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DIVERSIONS | music

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their seats in time for an introductory video.

It featured Springfield playing music from his childhood to the present, along with snippets with his various co-stars from his acting endeavors, including â&#x20AC;&#x153;General Hospitalâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ricky and the Flash.â&#x20AC;? Meryl Streep posed in one photo, and in another, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who admitted to being a big Springfield fan.

The opening salvo made it perfectly clear that this was going to be experience from the songwriter and guitarist, who has sold more than 25 million records and had 17 hits reach the Top 40 in his career. Instead, this was to be a Las Vegas-level cruise down Springfieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s memory lane, self-piloted from the scenic bank of the Mississippi River.

This gig was by no means â&#x20AC;&#x153;unplugged.â&#x20AC;?

It was Springfield that was â&#x20AC;&#x153;stripped downâ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x201D;of his band mates, that is. As soon as he jumped onto the stage, he immediately assumed command as a solo acoustic, electric, digital, and even iPhone-based musician, providing a high-energy backdrop for his sarcastic but endearing wit, colorful storytelling and audience engagement.

Weaving music and narrative with video excerpts of his life, Springfield described the triumph of commitment to his music over youthful delinquency, teenage idolatry, soap-opera fanfare and even a promising acting career. At each juncture of his life, Springfield had composed era-inspired songs, some of which are still unpublished.

He performed several of those at this event with technical assistance from his playfully taunted sound engineer, Matty Spindel.

Beginning in their original strippeddown version, many of the tracks that Springfield performed would morph midsong into digitally assisted multi-track pro-

like â&#x20AC;&#x153;Oh Well,â&#x20AC;? which he told us he once played under incoming mortar fire at Bob Hopeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s U.S.O. Tours in Vietnamâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;taking back to a time many of us would rather forget. Improvising through that era, Springfield burst into bits of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wipe Out,â&#x20AC;? with the audience providing foot drum rolls, and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Light My Fire,â&#x20AC;? hand-thumping his acoustic guitar to mimic the sound of incoming explosions.

Springfield introduced his most prolific â&#x20AC;&#x2122;80s-era music after belting out â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rumbling and Tumbling,â&#x20AC;? a raucous slide-guitar number from his blues days. With his audience singing along on choruses, Springfield also paid tribute to his heroes, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Badfinger.

Springfield then performed his latter hits, such as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Affair of the Heart,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Talk to Strangers,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve Done Everything For Youâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;You Better Love Somebody.â&#x20AC;?

I was having so much fun that I completely forgot about his magnum opus, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jessieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Girl,â&#x20AC;? until he quietly introduced its telltale power chords and announced that it would be the last of the night. The audience vocals nearly matched Springfieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in intensity. A Q&A period and meet-and-greet session after the show closed the evening.

At age 66, Springfield still has his voice, his chops, his contagious energy, his self-effacing sense of humor and good looks, and his performance at Ameristar showcased it all. For more than two hours, Springfield took quite a few of us blue hairs in the audience back to our own glory daysâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;when we were mostly just a bunch of kids ourselves, wishing that we, too, had Jessieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s girl.

Rick Springfieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Stripped Downâ&#x20AC;? album is available now on iTunes, Amazon and other digital retailers.

DIVERSIONS | arts

Justin Ransburg: Testing Boundaries

by Maya Miller

W

IMANI KHAYYAM

hen Justin Ransburg was only 8 years old, The artist also works with wood and household story. All of the imagery doesn’t have to go into one huge his older brother, Maurice Williams, gave objects, including Altoids tins, sewing paper and other thing,” Ransburg adds. him a task. Williams was an artist, and items that add texture and interest. Some of his artwork The artist’s inspirations include comic books such Ransburg wanted to create as “Saga” and his boyhood favorites, “Spihis own work, too. Williams told him to der-Man” and “Dragon Ball Z”; surrealist draw something that he liked, and afterpainter Salvador Dali and his former art ward, he gave him his first critique. Ever professor Robert Pruitt; and local artists since then, Ransburg has worked to creincluding John Jennings, Mitch Davis and ate art that keeps life interesting and tests Ian Hanson. boundaries of mixed media.

Hanson and Cody Cox recently host“I started out as doing it (art) just beed the sixth installment of Priced to Move, cause I loved it, which is something I enan art show where all pieces were under courage everybody to do,” Ransburg says. $100. Ransburg’s art was featured along“If you really love something, just do it, side other locals at the event. Currently, he even if no one wants to pay you.” has pieces hanging in High Noon Cafe in Jackson mixed-media artist Justin Ransburg was recently featured in the sixth Ransburg, a Jackson native who at- installment of Priced to Move.

Fondren and is working to get his work tended Callaway High School, graduated out to other local places. In the future, he from Texas Southern University in 2012 with a bache- has subtle elements, such as binary code with messages plans to work on more murals and get into videography. lor’s degree in fine arts with emphasis on painting. Most inserted into paintings.

“To me, in general, art is a way of coping and unof his artwork combines illustrations and painting, as “For me, (it’s done) when I know that there’s noth- derstanding daily life and giving other people insight into well as graphic design and photography. Ransburg says ing left that I can add to it, there’s nothing else that I can the way that you see life,” he says. “Sometimes, saying he dabbles in a bit of everything, including different say, because one trick of making art (is) … just knowing things, you can get them out in a certain way, but some mediums like charcoal, ink, wood or markers. He uses when to stop,” he says. Mixed-media artist Najee Dorsey of the words, because of (their) double meanings … they accents from each art style to complement each other, gave him advice, Ransburg says: “‘You don’t have to put may not have the same impact, whereas visuals, you look like portraits combining hand-drawn images such as a everything you know into a piece.’” at it and go, ‘Oh, I know exactly what this is about.’” woman with octopus tentacles for hair with graphics “You can have one statement with one piece, one For more information, find Justin Ransburg on such as starry nights. statement with another, and they could all tell the same Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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MISSISSIPPI MUSEUM of ART CELEBRATING THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARTISTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BIRTH

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These exhibitions present nearly 150 works by beloved artist Marie Hull (1890-1980) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the most ever assembled â&#x20AC;&#x201C; drawn from the Museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unsurpassed collection of Hullâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work as well as those found at Delta State University, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, The University of Mississippi Museum, and many private collections.

ON VIEW THROUGH JANUARY 10, 2016 F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N V I S I T

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380 SOUTH LAMAR STREET JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 39201 601.960.1515 1.866.VIEWART @MSMUSEUMART Marie Hull (1890-1980), Cuenca, Spain, circa 1930. watercolor and graphite on paper. Collection of Mississippi Museum of Art. 1981.294.

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