V15n18 - The Most Intriguing of 2016

vol. 15 no. 18

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January 4 - 10, 2017 | subscribe free for

news at JFPDaily.com

ARREST IN TEEN’S DEATH Summers Jr., pp 6-7

BE RESOLUTE Quinn, p 22

INDIE MUSIC WEEK Smith, p 26

WELLNESS IN THE NEW YEAR

Farming & Running the Blues

2016 THE MOST I N -

Helsel, pp 20-22

2016

THE MOST INTRIGUING OF

Your Metro Events Calendar is at

JFPEVENTS.COM

pp 16-19

January 4 - 10, 2017 • jfp.ms

YOUR FUTURE IS BRIGHTER AT MC.

2

JACKSONIAN Meredith McGee Imani Khayyam

W

hile Meredith McGee was growing up in Jackson, the second-generation writer says her family had a love for reading and the written arts. From her uncle, James Meredith, a writer and the first African American to integrate the University of Mississippi, to her mother, writer Hazel Meredith Coleman, who encouraged McGee to read, it was almost inevitable for her to have her own career in the written arts.

For the last 13 years, she has been the owner of typing and printing company Typing Solutions. There, she helps people create their final drafts of speeches, school essays and manuscripts, among other things. She says that one of the perks of the business is the access it gives her to constantly learning new things.

“I love to read. It was a part of our entertainment growing up,” McGee says.

With only a handful of bookstores and libraries in town, McGee, 53, believes Jackson is a “book desert.” The desire to garner more books here led her to launch a second business, local publishing company Meredith etc., in 2013. With only a small percentage of publishing companies in the country having an African American owner, McGee prides herself on being able to bring that entity to Jackson.

contents

“I want to help other people get into the marketplace,” she says. “I had 16 rejection letters (while trying to publish a book), and there’s a lot you have to do to a manuscript to get it ready for publishing.”

Since opening Meredith etc., McGee has published 12 books, including some she has written herself. When she is not working to help others find their writing groove, she works as a contributing writer for the Jackson Advocate. Her work there led to inspiration for her most recent book, “Nashida: Visits the Smith Robertson Museum.” While writing a story on the museum, McGee learned that many of the students from the public schools do not visit it. To McGee, the museum’s importance is the positive history of local African American culture that it houses.

McGee believes intellectual development and understanding the history of the community through books, documentaries or film are the stepping stones to rebuilding Jackson. Through producing books, McGee says she is doing her part to ensure that people have access to that information.

McGee’s family has three generations of writers in her family, the third of which includes her great niece, JaNiaya, who wrote “Saving the Manatees.”

—Alexis Ware

cover photo of Cindy Ayers-Elliott

by Imani Khayyam

January 4 - 10, 2017 | Vol. 15 No. 18 4 ............ Editor’s Note 6 ............................ Talks 12 ................... editorial 13 ...................... opinion 16 ............ Cover Story 20 .................. Wellness

7 Prohibiting a Rare Procedure

“When we’re talking about second-trimester abortions, we’re talking about before the point of viability, so states are not supposed to be able to ban or prevent a woman from accessing abortion care prior to the point of viability and that’s exactly what this type of bill is seeking to do.” —Autumn Katz, “‘Unborn Child Protection’ Law Prohibits Rare Procedure”

24 ......................... 8 Days 25 ....................... sports 26 .......................... music

22 Run the Blues

Read about the Mississippi Blues Marathon ahead of the event on Saturday, Jan. 7.

27 .............................. Film 27 ........ music listings 28 ...................... Puzzles 29 ......................... astro 29 ............... Classifieds

26 Celebrate Indie Music in Jackson Get the skinny on this yer’s Jackson’s Indie Music Week, which begins Sunday, Jan. 8.

January 4 - 10 , 2017 • jfp.ms

25 ........................ Events

3

editor’s note

by Amber Helsel, Assistant Editor

Change in 2017: Crawling, Then Walking

I

t is finally 2017, and I know we’ve all been waiting.

While I didn’t make my goal of losing 50 pounds in 2016, I did do something that I haven’t done since before my first semester at the University of Mississippi: I lost 20 pounds. It’s been a while since I’ve seen my current weight, and it feels nice.

But ever since Halloween, I’ve been stalling. It started with eating too much candy and then snowballed into eating too much food around the holidays.

As far as I can tell, I’ve been maintaining my current weight, but ever since my last weigh-in in November, I haven’t seen much progress (though I’m glad the scale isn’t rising). And except for the occasional run, I haven’t really exercised.

I have managed to curb my junk-foodeating habit for the most part, though I do have weaknesses, including cheese crackers, and my new favorite indulgence, gelato.

While my weight is something that’s on my mind this year, it’s not the only thing I’m focusing on. I’m trying to change a few bad habits, including my recently developed love of bingewatching anime for hours on end when I should be doing a thousand other things.

That’s a tough one because I tend to get sucked into whatever I’m watching. I’m also looking to do bigger stuff than I did last year. One of them is probably going to be one of the most adult decisions I’ve made thus far: buying my own house— that is, if my credit score lets me.

So God willing, 2017 is a year of change for me and hopefully for others, too. As we move forward in the new

year with whatever changes we make, we should keeping this idea in mind: There’s only so much of life that we can control.

If you didn’t know this, though some people who know me have probably guessed it, I’m a control freak—not in a “I want to make everyone do as I wish” way (I mean, sometimes I think

proach I and hopefully some other people have taken to dealing with the pending Trump presidency: I understand that I have little to no control over that, so I try not to worry too much. Really and truly, only a select few have control over most aspects of the presidency.

That doesn’t mean we should sit idly by. We should be vigilant and fight

Taking baby steps is at least a start. that would be nice), but I’m more of a control freak in that I like to know what’s going to happen. I don’t like unanswered questions or leaving things unfinished, but so much of 2016 for me was about unanswered questions and figuring out how to deal with situations like that. So much of it was about trying to figure out how to move forward, taking control of what I can and letting go of what I can’t.

It’s hard, but I’m learning, and I’m also learning about the degree of control I do have (It’s both more and less than I think) and by extension, what I want to have control of right now, like my weight and fixing my bad habits.

I think learning about your circle of control and influence is a huge part of living a successful, happy life, and it’s helpful in being able to control how much anxiety you have about certain things. A good example of this is the ap-

back when necessary, but we should also keep going with our lives. We should be angry; we should talk about what’s happening, and we should learn how to reconnect with each other. But we should also be present in the moment, be present in our lives. Time and life doesn’t stop just because Donald Trump is president, and it’s a waste of life, breath, energy and time to worry about it.

Plus, worrying helps little to nothing. It just prolongs whatever you’re worried about. Worrying less is easier said than done, but it does get easier the more you try.

So if my purpose for a lot of last year was to figure exactly what it means to be in control—and to let go when I can’t be—I think my purpose this year is to actively apply that to my life. That’s why I’m looking into buying a house. It’s time to take ownership of what I can. It’s time to take my dreams and goals and

actually put them into action. I mean, I’m sure I’ll still be lazy, and I’ll probably still binge-watch anime whenever possible, but it’s time to figure out how to take everything I’m interested in and want to do and make it work together— and even maybe figure out how to take my bad habits and somehow combine them with good ones.

For example, instead of worrying about being too lazy while watching TV, I’ve started doing other things along with that, like re-organizing my dresser or painting. Often, I don’t do that much work, but I manage to at least get some done. And here’s the kicker: A small portion of my binge watching has actually inspired me to start doing things. The anime “Yuri on Ice” helped me decide to start working out more, and one called “Barakamon” has given me some creative inspiration.

Resolutions are great, but I also think we should be cautious. It’s easy for anyone to believe that they’re going to be able to turn a complete 180. But you’d have to completely switch your personality to be able to make resolutions happen instantly. I can’t do that, and I have a feeling that other people would have trouble, too. It’s 2017, but I’m still loud, lazy, occasionally obnoxious, still incredibly self-conscious. But taking baby steps is at least a start. You have to crawl before you can walk and then run, right?

Demon Lady of Food and Assistant Editor Amber Helsel loves art, food, cooking, fencing and more (she has too many hobbies and interests to keep up with).

Email story ideas to amber@jackson freepress.com.

January 4 - 10 , 2017 • jfp.ms

contributors

4

Donna Ladd

Tim Summers Jr.

Sierra Mannie

Arielle Dreher

Imani Khayyam

Micah Smith

Emerald Alexis Ware

Zilpha Young

JFP Editor-in-chief and CEO Donna Ladd is a Neshoba County native who is called a scalawag from the right and a neo-liberal, whatever that is, from the left. Whatever. Follow her sass and brimstone at @donnerkay on Twitter.

City Reporter Tim Summers Jr. enjoys loud live music, teaching his cat to fetch, long city council meetings and FOIA requests. Send him story ideas at tim@jackson freepress.com. He contributed to the cover package.

Former Education Reporting Fellow Sierra Mannie’s opinions of the Ancient Greeks can’t be trusted nearly as much as her opinions of Beyoncé. The fellow-turnedfreelancer contributed to the cover package.

News Reporter Arielle Dreher is working on finding some new hobbies and adopting an otter from the Jackson Zoo. Email her story ideas at arielle@jacksonfreepress. com. She contributed to the cover package.

Staff Photographer Imani Khayyam is an art lover and a native of Jackson. He loves to be behind the camera and capture the true essence of his subjects. He took the cover photo and lots of others.

Music Editor Micah Smith is married to a great lady, has two dog-children named Kirby and Zelda, and plays in the band Empty Atlas. Send gig info to music@jacksonfree| press.com. He wrote about Jackson Indie Music Week.

Emerald Alexis Ware is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi. She has raging wanderlust and an obsession with Pinterest and all things 20-something.

She wrote about Jacksonian Meredith McGee.

Zilpha Young is an ad designer by day, painter, illustrator, seamstress and freelance designer by night. Check out her design portfolio at zilpha creates.com. She designed ads for the issue.

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AMERICAN~HISTORY Mississippi Music ~ Southern Charm

5

“I think we want to look at ways that legislators use their campaignfinance funds—make sure that they use them in a way that pertain to their purpose as a legislator.”

—House Speaker Philip Gunn, speaking with reporters in December, reiterated his intentions to pass meaningful campaign-finance reform.

Thursday, December 29

Robert “Too Sweet” Henderson testifies that three different individuals contacted him concerning “donations” to Robert Shuler Smith’s recent re-election campaign in exchange for dropped charges in 2015.

Friday, December 30

President Barack Obama appoints Carl Newman, the chief executive officer of the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority, to the National Infrastructure Advisory Council. … Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Jeff Weill testifies to his history with Robert Shuler Smith despite his attorney’s objections.

Saturday, December 31

U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor orders a halt to an Obama administration effort to strengthen transgender rights through new healthcare rules.

January 4 - 10 , 2017 • jfp.ms

Sunday, January 1

An assailant opens fire at a crowded nightclub in Istanbul during New Year’s celebrations, killing at least 39 people and wounding close to 70. … North Korean leader Kim Jong Un states that preparations for test-launching an intercontinental ballistic missile have “reached the final stage.”

6

Monday, January 2

The Greater Jackson Arts Council’s funding grows $105,000 after the Jackson City Council votes to restore one of the cuts to the local Department of Human and Cultural Services.

Tuesday, January 3

Four judges begin their new terms on the Mississippi Court of Appeals.

Get breaking news at jfpdaily.com.

Mother: Man Charged with Murder for Son’s Death Near Detention Center

by Tim Summers Jr.

N

early five months after a 17-year-old died from gunfire in the parking lot of Performance Oil on McDowell Road, a Hinds County grand jury indicted Wayne Mitchell Parish, 57, of Crystal Springs on Dec. 29 for murder of the teenager. Charles McDonald’s mother called to tell the Jackson Free Press of the arrest the day after the Hinds County Sheriff Department arrested Parish, a vice president of Performance Oil.

“I was overwhelmed with joy, that after 159 days of waiting, that he was finally arrested and charged,” Yvette Mason, McDonald’s mother, said today. “No one from the law-enforcement agency contacted me, and that’s what I am baffled about. At the end of the day, this was my child. Even if it had been the other way around, his family would have been notified.”

Mason would not say how she first heard about Parish’s arrest, but the arrest log is online county’s inmate search service.The arrest log lists Parish’s charge as murder, and a record from the Mississippi secretary of state’s website lists him as the vice president of Performance Oil.

A representative from the district attorney’s office that Parish had been indicted, and a Hinds County Circuit Court clerk showed a reporter the computer entry that displayed both Parish’s indictment record and that the file was still under seal.

Usually, grand-jury indictments are kept secret by law until the individual accused has been informed and/or arrested. The clerk said at the time that it took some time for the computer system in the courthouse to be updated after the indictments are handed down. Since the file was still under seal, no copies could be made.

Police statements from the day of the incident indicated that it was an employee of the business who shot McDonald.

“One of the employees, armed with a handgun, approached McDonald in the parking lot and attempted to stop him,” a Jackson Police Department release from that day states. “There was a struggle between McDonald and the employee. The employee shot

A Jackson Running Playlist

Imani Khayyam File Phot

Wednesday, December 28

Mississippi business leaders, corporations, lawyers and locals denounce HB 1523 in legal briefs supporting plaintiffs who want the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to affirm the lower court’s decision and deem the “Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act” unlawful.

EdBuild CEO Rebecca Sibilia is on our list of 2016’s most intriguing. p 16

Charles McDonald, 17, died from gunshot wounds in the parking lot of Performance Oil on McDowell Road after Wayne Mitchell Parish, vice president of the company, allegedly shot the young man in the middle of an auto burglary. His mother, here holding a picture of McDonald, says Parish is under arrest for murder.

“Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars—I mean, this song made the theme for last year’s Best of Jackson possible.

“Happy” by Pharrel Williams—The song itself doesn’t have anything to do with Jackson, but who can forget the “#HappyMS” video from 2014 (Thabi Moyo and company even shot part of it in the JFP office downtown; yes, we danced like fools.)

by Amber Helsel

W

ith the Mississippi Blues Marathon this weekend, and with this being the new year, we’re celebrating our deep musical roots. Here are a few songs that have something to do with Jackson or mention the city to add to your playlist for running through Jacktown.

“Jackson” by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash—The song is actually about Jackson, Tenn., but it still talks about a place named Jackson, so we’ll take it.

“Mississippi Rain” by The Weeks—It’s not exactly about Jackson, but both the state and city have made appearances in the band’s music since the very beginning.

“My City, City With Soul” by Nu AJC—Jackson is featured heavily in this music video, from scenes of the Pearl River to Nu AJC performing at F. Jones Corner.

“The thing about the arts council is that, in my years of watching, they do not discriminate. ... That’s the issue that people are concerned about, making sure that the money will continue to go to the poor neighborhoods like (GJAC has) done over the years when the cuts come.”

”I don’t think so ... I was doing what (Smith) told (me) to do.”

—Robert “Too Sweet” Henderson, testifying in the Hinds County DA’s trial that he did not believe he was participating in a scam while admitting to facilitating bribe requests.

—Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes, who said the Greater Jackson Arts Council received support due to its commitment to both rich and poor parts of the city

‘Unborn Child Protection’ Law Prohibits Rare Procedure

by Arielle Dreher

M

him during the struggle. The employee was questioned and later released. There were no other injuries reported.”

McDonald’s mother told the Jackson Free Press that her son was beating on the windows of the car with the red flip-flops he had been wearing at the time.

Mason, present during the shooting death of her son, told the Jackson Free Press in a longer interview in October that McDonald had run down the hill from the Henley-Young Juvenile Justice Center, where he was detained over eight times over the last two years.

McDonald’s mother and the executive

director of Henley-Young, Johnnie McDaniels, both told the Jackson Free Press that McDonald did not receive the mentalhealth and substance-abuse treatment he needed at the detention center on McDowell Road, near Performance.

No indictment records on Parish were available in the county’s electronic record retrieval service, the Mississippi Electronic Courts, as of press time.

Calls to the sheriff’s office returned only busy signals during several attempts this afternoon. Jackson Police Chief Lee Vance said he was unaware of the arrest.

Mississippi Code 97-3-15 outlines the

requirements for “justifiable homicide,” sometimes referred to as the “Castle Doctrine,” and one of the allowed instances outlined is “when committed by any person in resisting any attempt unlawfully to kill such a person or to commit any felony upon him, or upon or in any dwelling, in any occupied vehicle, in any place of business, in any place of employment or in the immediate premises thereof in which such person shall be.”

The 2006 law rode with the national trend of American Legislative Exchange Council-supported bills that copied a Florida law, known as the “Stand Your Ground”

principle, used later on to pave the way for the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the much-publicized trial for his shooting death of teenager Trayvon Martin.

The victim’s aunt told the Jackson Free Press during a phone interview Monday that the family now fears that Parish would receive a low bond during his arraignment.

The arrest record shows he was booked into the Raymond Detention Center. It does not show a bond posted as of Jan. 3.

Email city reporter Tim Summers Jr. at tim@jacksonfreepress.com. Read more about Hinds County juvenile detention and youth crime at jfp.ms/preventingviolence.

January 4 - 10 , 2017 • jfp.ms

Trip Burns/File Photo

ississippi lawmakers’ ban on Medicaid reim- “It was signed in mid-2016,” Hall told the D&E stands for dilation and evacuation, the most bursements for the state’s only Planned Par- Jackson Free Press. common method of abortion that doctors use for womenthood clinic stalled in federal court last year, “And we have not had a single hearing. Of all the doc- en in their second trimester of pregnancy, or about 13 to but another anti-abortion bill did become state tors that we see on a regular basis, I can’t remember the last 27 weeks. law last summer despite advocates warning of its shifty legal time we’ve had a complaint about an abortion provider.”

Duran, of the National Right to Life Committee, said standing and legal challenges in surrounding states. that while “dismemberment” is not a medical term, it is a

The “Mississippi Unborn Child Protec“legal term of art,” a lot like “partial-birth abortion from Dismemberment Abortion Act,” tion.” That phrase, used instead of “late-term is modeled after National Right to Life Comabortion” by the procedure’s opponents, bemittee model legislation, Ingrid Duran, direccame a part of the legal discussion of abortion tor for the Department of State Legislation at during the Gonzalez v. Carhart case, in which National Right to Life confirmed. Mississippi’s the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the “Partiallaw is similar to one Kansas lawmakers passed in Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003.”

2015, along with four other states. Mississippi’s

“Partial-birth,” like “dismemberment,” is law passed easily in the supermajority Republinot a medical term. can statehouse last session.

“The purpose behind the bill is to shed

Mississippi is one of six states with such a a light on what exactly happens during a D&E law on the books, but along with West Virginia abortion,” Duran said. “And this conversation is one of two that have escaped legal challenges started during the partial-birth abortion ban of the legislation. Louisiana, Alabama, Kansas hearings (in 2006). Justice Kennedy was talking and Oklahoma “dismemberment” laws are all about what was happening during the dismemState lawmakers passed the “Unborn Child Protection from on hold, pending litigation. berment process.”

Dismemberment Abortion Act” in 2016, which allows women, their

The law allows a woman who received a

Katz sees the bills as more attacks on spouses or doctors, or any attorney to press charges against an “dismemberment abortion,” her spouse, parent abortion clinics and the ability for doctors to abortion doctor who performs a “dismemberment abortion.” or doctor, or any prosecuting attorney with apperform what is a safe and legal procedure. propriate jurisdiction to seek civil or criminal

“To broaden the authority of anybody penalties against a doctor who performs a “dismemberment ‘A Legal Term of Art’ who can try to file a complaint, I think, goes to show the abortion.”

“Dismemberment” abortion is not a medical term true intentions of politicians to harass women and to harass

“Dismemberment abortion” is not a medical term, used in the field, said Autumn Katz, senior staff attorney doctors in this case and make it impossible for them to prohowever, and anti-abortion groups use it in legal documents at the Center for Reproductive Rights, which is challenging vide this care to women,” she said. to describe a second-trimester abortion medical treatment the laws. “In medical literature and terminology that doccalled dilation and evacuation, or D&E. tors use, there is no such thing as ‘dismemberment abor- Targeting the Second Term

Doctors accused under this law in Mississippi can seek tion,’” Katz told the Jackson Free Press.

D&E abortions are not the most common form of a hearing at the State Board of Medical Licensure. John “But D&E is a common term that refers to a method abortion performed in Mississippi and nationwide. Data Hall, the executive director of the board, said there have of abortion used in the second trimester, and we think that’s more ABORTION, see page 8 been no hearings since the bill law went into effect. what these bills are targeting.”

7

8

from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that most abortions in the U.S. and in Mississippi take place in the first trimester of pregnancy.

More than 90 percent of abortions were performed at or before 13 weeks of pregnancy in 2013, the most recent year that data is available for, and in Mississippi 92 percent of abortions in that same year occurred in the first trimester.

Doctors did not perform abortions after 18 weeks of pregnancy in Mississippi in 2013, CDC data show.

Abortion is legal in the United States until the point of fetal viability in a pregnancy, or when the fetus is capable of living outside the mother’s womb, a point that varies from pregnancy to pregnancy. The point of viability defined in Roe v. Wade was around 28 weeks of pregnancy, well into a mother’s third trimester. Katz said the “dismemberment” bills target second-trimester abortions, which are legal, even though they are not common.

“When we’re talking about secondtrimester abortions, we’re talking about before the point of viability, so states are not supposed to be able to ban or prevent a woman from accessing abortion care prior to the point of viability. ... That’s exactly what this type of bill is seeking to do,” Katz said.

No one legally challenged Mississippi’s “Unborn Child Protection” bill before it became law last July, so Duran said she is not worried about its legality in the state.

Katz said legal challenges are more common in states with more direct threats to access of safe abortion care.

“My understanding then would be that it (the laws in Mississippi and West Virginia) hasn’t threatened access in the same way that it would have in states where they’ve been challenged,” Katz told the Jackson Free Press.

Katz said she expects more states to file “dismemberment” bans in the new year, and in Arkansas lawmakers have already pre-filed a bill to impose a ban like Mississippi’s, Duran said.

“We’ve been getting a lot of buzz and a lot of requests,” said Duran, who works directly with state affiliates of National Right to Life. “I think other states will follow suit.”

The 2017 legislative session (#msleg) started on Jan. 3. Email state reporter Arielle Dreher at arielle@ jacksonfreepress.com and follow on Twitter at @arielle_amara..

TALK | state

Mississippi Still Faces Merged Mental-health Lawsuits

by Arielle Dreher

J

.B. is from northern Mississippi and was committed to a The State of Mississippi originally asked for the consolidation facility in Gulfport, hundreds of miles away from his home of the two cases, and the U.S. Justice Department asked the court for mental-health treatment. L.P. is from Jackson, and like to not consolidate them, saying it would delay proceedings in the J.B. was also sent to the coast for treatment. L.S. is from two cases. Judge Parker disagreed and consolidated the two cases southwest Mississippi and was housed in Jackson. These young anyway, saying that since neither case has gone into the discovery people have all been placed in long-term residential institutions due phase, yet, it would not cause delays. to their behavioral or emotional disorders instead of receiving care in their own communities near their homes.

An Ongoing Problem

They are just three of the many children in the Mississippi’s State lawmakers have known about Mississippi’s mentalmental-health system who are Medicaid-eligible for community- health system problems for quite some time. A 2008 Joint Combased care, but are instead ushered away to institutions, sometimes mittee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review report hundreds of miles away from their homes and families, according shows that not only did the state primarily focus its funding on to a 2010 lawsuit filed on their behalf by the Southern Poverty Law Center and other advocacy organizations. The lawsuit says the kids listed above and others were “denied intensive home- and communitybased mental-health services.”

Medicaid-eligible children are entitled to services under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment Services (called EPSDT) provisions of the Medicaid Act. These services include individual counseling and treatment for mental health or substance abuse administered at home or school, counseling and therapy and intensive outpatient services, a 2014 Medicaid EPSDT guide says.

The State of Mississippi offers some of these services with wraparound teams and mobile-crisis response teams coordinated in community mental health centers Attorney General Jim Hood’s (pictured) office asked U.S. Magistrate Judge around the state. Plaintiffs in the Troupe v.

Michael T. Parker to consolidate two mental-health lawsuits brought against Barbour case allege that they are denied inthe State of Mississippi, which he did in early December. tensive home and community-based care as described above and instead are forced its mental-health institutions and facilities but also lags behind nato cycle through institutions instead. tional trends in increasing funding for community-based services.

And while funding for community-based services had increased, it From Two Lawsuits to One

The Troupe v. Barbour case dragged on due to lengthy and did not increase as much as in other states.

Additionally, going against national trends, Mississippi opened ultimately unfruitful negotiations between the State of Mississippi, the plaintiffs and eventually the U.S. Justice Department. When four new inpatient mental-health treatment facilities since the midnegotiations hit a dead-end, the Justice Department sued the State 1990s, the 2008 PEER report says.

The State did work to implement changes to the system in orlast August, bringing a similar complaint for Mississippi’s system of der to avoid a lawsuit for violating the Americans with Disabilities mental health care for adults.

Then early last December, U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael T. Act, in light of Olmstead, the 1999 landmark U.S. Supreme Court Parker ordered the consolidation of the two lawsuits, saying that decision that required states to place people in community settings their jurisdiction and venue are the same—and they both allege rather than institutions, just not quickly enough.

The Mississippi Department of Mental Health has a plan to “broad challenges to Mississippi’s public policies concerning the provision of services and treatment under Medicaid to those with incorporate more community-based services into its treatment, including training for the State’s mental health-care providers to mental illness.”

“Each case involves a facet of the same mental-health system,” offer “wraparound” services, expanding substance-abuse treatment Parker wrote in his Dec. 6 order. “While there will undoubtedly be programs for youth and their families, and operating mobile crisis some need to distinguish between fact issues related to each facet, response teams through the state’s community mental-health centhe Court does not believe it will be as difficult or confusing as the United States argues.” more MENTAL HEALTH see page 10

Imani Khayyam File Photo

January 4 - 10 , 2017 • jfp.ms

ABORTION from page 7

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THE DA FILES

No Dismissal, a Judge and an Inmate in Smith Trial

by Tim Summers Jr.

T

January 4 - 10 , 2017 • jfp.ms

‘Matter of Debate’

What Smith did in the months before his arrest in June 2016 counts, and whether it qualifies as illegal aiding and assisting a criminal defendant, is the central question of the trial. The prosecutors outlined the allegation in their jury instructions: that Smith assisted Christopher Butler by meeting with him in jail, by providing advice to his attorney and by “other means seeking the release of Butler from jail.”

Jim Waide, Smith’s defense attorney from Tupelo, attacked this definition of aiding and assisting during his argument for a motion to dismiss the charge against Smith.

He even went so far as to argue to Special Judge Larry Roberts that allowing a loose definition of aiding and assisting the court ventured into “treacherous” territory.

Assistant Attorney General Bob Anderson instead argued that a person of

MENTAL HEALTH from page 8

ters to avoid improper hospitalization or jail time for an individual experiencing a crisis.

For fiscal-year 2018, DMH requested $83.1 million for its services budget, which implements the state’s community-based services like the community mental-health centers, mobile-response crisis teams and 10 training for stakeholders to provide wrap-

“common intelligence” could discern clearly what the words “aiding” and “assisting” entailed, even stating that the prosecution had “plenty of evidence” that Smith made attempts to free Butler.

Roberts, a retired appellate judge, said he was concerned with ruling on the constitutionality of the wording of the law from the bench, adding that approving the

site ends of the Hinds County justice system, their testimony mirrored each other in the restrictive nature of the scope of what they could say while under oath.

Butler attorney, Kevin Rundlett, repeatedly interrupted the court to prevent his client from potentially releasing information that could hinder his defense in each of the several charges he faces, includ-

Butler and Weill

The two most notable witnesses during the trial last week were the man at the center of the controversy, Christopher Butler, and the judge who described his relationship with Smith as “adversarial,” Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Jeff Weill. The defense called both men.

And while the two men sit on oppo-

ing several drug-possession charges from a 2011 Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics raid on the home he shared with his then-girlfriend Kwanza Hilliard, as well as wire-fraud charges the attorney general’s office filed against him earlier this year for embezzling money through his job at Mega-Mattress.

Butler, who said that he was in solitary confinement for five months in Rankin County on the order of MBN, repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right not to testify against himself, at the behest of his attorney. He was unable even to discuss the two trips Smith made to see him in the Raymond jail in May outside the presence

of his then-attorney, Sanford Knott.

Judge Roberts even recognized the tension between enforcing Smith’s dueprocess rights and the rights of the accused, Butler, stating that he had no “crystal ball” to see whether the statements made on the stand could come back to hurt Butler in future proceedings. Waide pushed for the testimony in order to help Smith.

Weill’s appearance, on the other hand, was unique for a number of reasons, including that rarely do judges take the stand, due to the privileged nature of the judicial thought-process and restrictions against testifying about cases that appear before the judge. His own attorney, Frank Trapp, objected to questions from Smith’s attorney, mostly concerning Weill’s thoughts or opinions about the drug charges Butler still faces in circuit court.

Judge Weill, a former Jackson councilman from Ward 1, did say on the stand that he and Smith had difficulties on several occasions, including an incident where Weill ordered a cell phone belonging to Smith’s assistant confiscated during a capital-murder case earlier this year. Smith then later showed up in Weill’s chambers with a television crew, demanding that Weill return the cell phone. Weill said he received “threatening” text messages from Smith later that same day. As a result, he said, he entered a complaint against Smith.

Weill is the Hinds circuit judge who denied Smith’s attempts to drop the drug charges against Butler.

As the Jackson Free Press goes to press on Tuesday, Jan. 3, the defense has just rested after testimony by Butler’s family members and Ward 3 City Councilman Kenneth Stokes. See full daily coverage at jfp.ms/DAFiles and on Twitter at @tims_alive. Email city reporter Tim Summers Jr. at tim@jacksonfreepress.com with tips or comments.

around services for youth. The Joint Legislative Budget Committee recommends cutting the overall department state support budget by at least 3 percent or almost $8 million.

In his fiscal-year 2018 plan, Gov. Phil Bryant recommends keeping the mentalhealth department’s budget the same as it is this year, after most state agencies took cuts in fiscal-year 2017. Bryant critiqued the August lawsuit, brought by the U.S.,

calling it “another attempt by the federal government to dictate policy to the states through the courts,” the Associated Press reported in August. Taxpayers will bear the financial burden of the two lawsuits, merged or separate.

Attorney General Jim Hood responded to the August lawsuit by saying the State now had the opportunity to focus on and continue to expand mental-health services because over-reliance on institutionaliza-

tion versus other solutions for mental and behavioral care for Mississippians led to the two lawsuits in the first place.

“We are now in the undesirable position of fighting a lawsuit that will cost us even more,” Hood said in a statement. “It’s time to act on behalf of our mentally ill residents and invest in the care they deserve.”

Comment at jfp.ms. Email state reporter Arielle Dreher at arielle@jacksonfreepress.com and follow her on Twitter @arielle_amara.

Imani Khayyam

he exact extent to which a prosecutor can go to prove his claim that a prisoner is innocent is central to the State trial of Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith.

“A prosecutor has the responsibility of a minister of justice and not simply that of an advocate,” the Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct section concerning the role of the prosecutor states, which both sides regularly brought up in the trial.

“This responsibility carries with it specific obligations to see that the defendant is accorded procedural justice and that guilt is decided upon the basis of sufficient evidence. Precisely how far the prosecutor is required to go in this direction is a matter of debate and varies in different jurisdictions,” the rules continue.

The trial boils down to how exactly the district attorney should carry out that responsibility—and the veracity of his reasons for trying to free Christopher Butler.

During the the first week of the Hinds district attorney’s trial, an attempt to dismiss the case and the testimonies of Christopher Butler and Judge Jeff Weill (pictured) revealed more of the central tensions in the Smith case.

dismissal Waide wanted would essentially a judge legislating. He denied the defense’s motion to dismiss, stating that it was the jury’s job to determine the parameters of the law and whether Smith violated them.

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NEW YEAR

11

Poop Hitting the Fan

B

oneqweesha Jones: “Welcome to the 2017 edition of ‘Qweesha Live’ on Ghetto Science Public Television. As we usher in a new year of fake news, computer hackery, twitter rants, racist emails, bigoted trolls, etc., my special guests and I will do our best to combat the abuse of technology and provide honest journalism in 2017. With me on today’s first show to fight the good fight for truth and justice are Aunt Tee-Tee Hustle, information technology and computer guru, and her nephew Brother ‘Money’ Hustle, marketing and entrepreneurial specialist.

“Recently, Legendary CBS Newsman Dan Rather wrote on Facebook this response regarding the lack of objectivity and honesty in journalism today: ‘We are being confronted by versions of what are claimed to be ‘the truth’ that resemble something spewed out by a fertilizer-spreader in a wind tunnel.’ What is your opinion about this statement?”

Aunt Tee-Tee: “Emojis cannot express my disappointment in this unfortunate collaboration of propaganda and technology.”

Brother ‘Money’ Hustle: “Aunt Tee-Tee and I agree with Mr. Rather; the poop has hit the fan. Some ill-intentioned individuals have used technology to undermine the minds of the people. For example, online History Revisionists now publish misinformation about lynching, oppression and slavery. The nonsense at our mind’s expense must stop. As community leaders, we must utilize computer technology and genuine journalism to properly entertain, educate and inform the masses, or we will be up to ears with crappy journalism.”

Boneqweesha Jones: “As Walter ‘Concrete’ Cronkite would say: ‘And that’s the way it is.’”

January 4 - 10 , 2017 • jfp.ms

“Confusing”

12

In a Dec. 29 Facebook post, House Speaker Philip Gunn wrote: “Find someone who can explain MAEP. It is confusing and difficult to comprehend.

Understanding how we fund education should not be confusing. If we don’t fund our schools in a transparent, efficient and consistent manner, we will continue our trend of staying in 50th place. Who’s not #FedUpWith50th?!?”

Why it stinks: While the state’s education formula should be transparent and efficient, calling MAEP confusing while simultaneously not admitting that the Legislature cannot fully fund it due to shrinking revenue and budget cuts is disingenuous. The state’s education funding formula will go through dramatic changes this legislative session if leaders like Gunn get their way, and if that process is kept transparent, more Mississippians might be able to see how and why education formulas sometimes need to be more “confusing” in order to be equitable.

Stop Justifying Execution of Children, Car Thieves

N

early five months after a man left the safety of his place of employment, Performance Oil, and came outside with a loaded gun and killed a 17-year-old, a grand jury has indicted him for murder of the teenager who was beating on a car window in the parking lot.

Charles McDonald was a troubled African American child, and the company vice president accused of his murder, Wayne Winstead Parish, happens to be white. The race of the alleged shooter, however, is near-irrelevant because a black homeowner did something similar in 2013, leaving his house with a loaded gun and emptying it into 20-year-old Quardious Thomas who he says was breaking into his car. District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith’s office did not push to indict the homeowner in that case (even though Smith and Thomas are cousins), but they target Parish now.

We applaud this decision, even as we see the tragedy on all sides. JFP reporter Tim Summers Jr. did an in-depth cover story on the McDonald tragedy, in which his mother was honest about his troubled life, and Johnnie McDaniels, the director of the Hinds County detention center, admitted that the system had failed to help McDonald.

To us, though, society failed McDonald. Of course, that started with a system that cycles (mostly) young people of color in and out of our juveniledetention and court systems without proper alternatives to help them turn their lives around and interrupt the crime cycle before it ends in tragedy. We have an ongoing series at jfp.ms/preventingviolence

that is vetting potential solutions to stop young crime, and show that over-reliance on the criminal system increases the severity of likely violence.

But there’s more. We live in a culture where many say it is appropriate to march a weapon out of your home and office if you suspect someone is trying to steal your stuff—and kill them. That is akin to justifying hanging people back in wild-west times for stealing a horse. Execution is out of proportion to the crime, with often tragic consequences.

McDonald’s race is important, though, because a well-to-do white teen on drugs or with mental issues might also jump out of his parents’ car and start beating on a car window (whether trying to steal it or not). Research shows that an adult is less likely to kill that teen and assume the worst, maybe even approaching to try to offer help. We see many tragedies of addicted white teens in the metro, and much less rhetoric about how it’s the parents’ fault.

Two things need to happen right away to stop future tragedies that may destroy both the lives of both the young man and the older shooter. We all must see how out of proportion deadly force is in dealing with theft of our stuff. These men should have stayed safe inside and called the cops. Period.

Secondly, the city, county and state governments must look seriously at how much money, and life, they can save by embracing alternatives to juvenile detention and over-policing. Young people and their parents need help in the form of wraparound and trauma services, education resources and a lot more compassion than we often see.

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.

R.H. Coupe

EDITORIAL Assistant Editor Amber Helsel Reporters Arielle Dreher,Tim Summers Jr. JFP Daily Editor Dustin Cardon Music Editor Micah Smith Events Listings Editor Tyler Edwards Writers Richard Coupe, Bryan Flynn, Shelby Scott Harris, Sierra Mannie, Mike McDonald, Greg Pigott, Julie Skipper Consulting Editor JoAnne Prichard Morris ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY

ADVERTISING SALES Sales and Marketing Consultants Myron Cathey, Roberta Wilkerson Sales Assistant Mary Osborne BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS Distribution Manager Richard Laswell Distribution Raymond Carmeans, Clint Dear, Michael McDonald, Ruby Parks 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

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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. © Copyright 2017 Jackson Free Press Inc. All Rights Reserved

S

omething wasn’t quite right. My ries of America’s wars in the ’40s, ’50s family and friends had already en- and ’60s. My uncle fought in WWII. tered the cathedral to have a look I have two nephews who were Maaround, but the wall in front of the rines, and each did two tours as combat cemetery held my attention. infantrymen in Afghanistan and Iraq. I

We were in the French city of Ober- joined the Army at 17. On my mother’s nai, a beautiful little Alsatian village a few side of the family, two brothers of Irish miles from where I live in Strasbourg, decent fought in the Civil War, and my France. The city has an intact wall com- namesake, a great uncle, fought in WWI. plete with turrets, gates, a moat, modern Sounds heroic, doesn’t it? But as they apartments and even a hotel. It has wind- say, the devil is in the details. Of the two ing narrow cobblestone streets, and at every brothers who served in the Civil War, one other door, you can taste the fruits of the was captured near Richmond, Va., in the thousands of acres of nearby vineyards. Ru- fall of 1864 and died a miserable death of ined castles dot the hillsides and poke jag- starvation and exposure in a Confederate gedly against the skyline. prison camp at Salis On this wall, like bury, N.C. The other in almost every city that shattered his arm at the I’ve ever been, there are battle of Spotsylvania memorials to their warCourthouse and never time dead. Here, bronze worked again. The plaques honor the National Archives conObernai soldiers who tains his biennial medidied in service to their cal checkups to certify country, beginning with his disability, and they the 1870-1871 Francochronicle a steady detePrussian war, followed The war memorial in rioration over time until Obernai, France by a longer WWI his death in an old solplaque and an even londier’s home in 1917. ger WWII plaque.

Friendly fire killed my great uncle,

I suddenly realized what was bother- Richard Coupe, in WWI (my father’s faming me. It was the words over the plaques: ily was still British at the time) during the “Obernai À ses enfants morts pour la pat- Battle of the Somme in 1916 on his first day rie,” or “Obernai to its children who died in combat; his body was never recovered. for their country.”

My own father fought demons for the rest

“Really?” I thought. “Which coun- of his life after serving in Saigon during the try?” The dead listed on the plaque from 1968 Tet offensive. My nephews, whom I the Franco-Prussian war in 1870-1871 watched grow into strong young men with would have been French soldiers fighting unlimited potential, both now suffer from against the Germans. Alsace became Ger- varying degrees of post-traumatic stress disman after the war, and 40 years later, their order and other medical issues. grandsons would have been German sol- I served in Germany at the close of diers fighting against the French in WWI. the Vietnam War in the early 1970s, and With Alsace becoming French again after most of the non-commissioned officers WWI, 20 years later their sons on the list of there had multiple combat tours. I watched dead could include French soldiers fighting helplessly as many of them self-destructed the Germans in 1939-1940, or they then because the transition to a peace-time army would have been German soldiers fighting was impossible, as demons acquired during Allied soldiers, as Hilter drafted 140,000 combat hounded them. Drugs and alcohol Alsatians into the German Army. ruined many decorated veterans.

Trump’s election and his selection of All these things and more soured me a hard group of men and women to be his on further military service. advisers has me worried. The aggressive Is Obernai a better place because militaristic posture he and those he sur- of the deaths of the men listed on those rounds himself with suggests the prospect plaques? How does one make sense of the of sending American troops into harm’s sacrifices that little French town, or for that way again, and they are discussing it as if it matter my extended family, made? were an answer to the world’s problems.

R.H. Coupe, a longtime resident of Mis I come from a proud military fam- sissippi, is currently living and working in ily. My father and my wife’s father were Strasbourg, France, with his wife and youngcareer military officers fighting in a se- est child. He is a regular contributor.

RH Coupe

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E TH G

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15

The Most Intriguing OF

T Imani Khayyam

Armed with an inexhaustible supply of bowties and promises before his speeches that he wouldn’t start preaching—but usually ending up preaching anyway—Dr. Cedrick Gray led the Jackson Public Schools district for four years before his dramatic resignation in November. His tenure in JPS wasn’t unsuccessful; he entered the district while it was on probation and kept it afloat at its long-standing “D” rating. The district also housed nationally recognized schools and nursed a healthy handful of A- and B-rated schools.

But Gray, who is also a preacher in Madison, warned as early as November 2015 that things might look different for JPS the next school year. With changing standardized tests and steeper cut-off points for proficiency, or “passing scores,” he predicted the district’s downgraded accountability rating, which came true this past October; JPS is now an “F”-district despite its many successes.

Gray suddenly disappeared from the public eye amid calls for his resignation and rumors that the school board pressured him to quit. Despite JPS board President Beneta Burt saying she had no knowledge that Gray intended to resign, the board announced his departure on Oct. 28, and he submitted his official letter of resignation on Nov. 1. Dr. Freddrick Murray, former chief academic officer for high schools, now serves as interim superintendent.

— Sierra Mannie

Rebecca Sibilia, CEO of EdBuild

EdBuild took Mississippi by surprise. The New Jersey-based nonprofit came onto the scene after Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and House Speaker Philip Gunn announced they had entered into a contract with the group to help vet the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, or MAEP.

MAEP determines the state’s share of funding for its public-school districts, and its funding is the subject of vigorous debate among lawmakers and education stakeholders. EdBuild itself received scrutiny statewide, especially from teachers, a few of whom spoke at the capitol in November and admonished legislators for the secretive way they admitted to working with the company.

Central to EdBuild is CEO Rebecca Sibilia. On the surface, she does not seem to have much in common politically with the GOP leaders who employed her; Sibilia’s Twitter, at least, is staunchly anti-Trump.

But she told the Jackson Free Press that EdBuild’s focus, when it came to Mississippi and the state’s funding formula, was “to do their job.” EdBuild champions a funding mechanism called “weighted student funding” that stacks funds atop the base cost to educate a student based on factors like whether they — Sierra Mannie 16 live in poverty or are learning English.

January 4 - 10 , 2017 • jfp.ms

Barber/ Campaign for Southern Equality v. Bryant Plaintiffs

Dr. Cedrick Gray

The 2016 legislative session in Mississippi meant the introduction and passage of House Bill 1523, the infamous “Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act,” a blatant and heavily protested clap-back to the U.S. Supreme Court legalizing same-sex marriage in 2015. If it weren’t for several plaintiffs in two lawsuits joined together to challenge the bill’s constitutionality, Mississippi would have what many advocacy groups recognize as the most overreaching anti-LGBT laws nationally.

The plaintiffs in the joined Barber v. Bryant and Campaign for Southern Equality v. Bryant lawsuits are Mississippians from different walks of life.

Some own nonprofit organizations; others were influential in the Civil Rights Movement. Some work in churches as pastors; others are creatives. All of them believed HB 1523 endangered not just their well-being but the lives of all Mississippians.

“The State of Mississippi has erected a scheme of legal privileges exclusively for those who subscribe to ‘sincerely held religious beliefs and moral convictions’ that might lead them to discriminate against same-sex couples who marry or want to marry, unmarried people engaging in sexual relations, and transgender people,” the Dec. 16 Barber plaintiff brief states.The court drama is just getting started, but for now, the U.S. District Court put the bill on pause before it went into affect. Attorney General Jim Hood refused to continue to defend the law, so Gov. Bryant called lawyers at the ultra-conservative legal group Alliance Defending Freedom to help him appeal the lower court’s decision.

— Arielle Dreher

Gov. Phil Bryant

Imani Khayyam

Imani Khayyam

Imani Khayyam

by JFP Staff

he last year was a crazy one, to say the least, but crazy often means that intriguing people came out of the woodwork. Here are some of the local people we found the most intriguing over the last year, for better or worse.

Gov. Phil Bryant started his second term with a packed plate: a potential federal-foster care takeover, finalizing big economic-development projects and managing the state’s budget. Bryant also managed to make 2016 a banner year for religious-freedom debates, education and Donald Trump.

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, awarded the governor with the Conservative Leadership Award after he signed House Bill 1523 into law, despite rallies of concerned Mississippians calling on him not to do so and various boycotts of the state. The Education Commission of the States, a Colorado-based education policy research center, named Bryant as chair-elect in December.

Bryant called two special sessions this year, one to ram through an economic-incentives package, which should eventually bring 3,500 jobs to the state from a Continental Tire factory in Hinds County and a shipyard in Gulfport. The State issued $274 million in bonds to make the two projects possible. Bryant called a second special session to plug budget holes in the fiscal-year 2016 budget, just days before it ended. He also helped secure funding for the new Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services, avoiding a federal takeover of the state’s foster-care system. Bryant campaigned enthusiastically for Donald Trump, including at the coliseum during a rally with Trump and Brexit leader Nigel Farage, and plans to attend his inauguration this January. — Arielle Dreher more INTRIGUING, see page 18

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The Mississippi Youth Media Project is looking for collaborators, donations and volunteers to teach us.

17

2016

courtesy MDOC

Imani Khayyam

The Most Intriguing OF

Four Mississippi Supreme Court justices will take the bench in the new year, and three of them are no stranger to the bench at all.

District 1 Justice Jim Kitchens won a fairly close race in November, beating Court of Appeals Judge Kenny Griffis to re-claim his seat.

District 2 Justice Dawn Beam ran her first election campaign, after she was appointed to the state’s high court in February to fill the unexpired term of Justice Randy Pierce. Beam won her election easily and has already started work on the state’s foster-care system; she co-chairs the Commission on Children’s Justice.

Justice James Maxwell was elected in an uncontested race back to his seat on the bench. Newly elected District 3 Justice Robert Chamberlin won a tough, contested race and a run-off election. He previously served for 12 years as a circuit court judge and was responsible for starting the 17th Circuit District’s Drug Court in 2006. Chamberlin replaces Justice Ann Lamar, who retired in December. All four justices were sworn in to their roles on Jan. 3.

The Mississippi Supreme Court recently adopted new Mississippi Rules of Criminal Procedure that will go into affect in July 2017, with the goal of bringing uniformity and transparency to the criminal-justice procedures in the state. The court spent six years working on the rule changes.

—Arielle Dreher

Imani Khayyam

‘New’ Mississippi Supreme Court Justices

Rep. Debra Gibbs, D-Jackson

January 4 - 10 , 2017 • jfp.ms

Imani Khayyam

When former Rep. Kimberly Campbell, DJackson, announced she would not return to her post in the Mississippi Legislature, the seat for District 72 opened up for a special election. Debra Gibbs, a local attorney and former businesswoman, won the run-off election between her and Synarus Green, the director of policy and intergovernmental affairs for the City of Jackson, in September. She joins the often-vocal Jackson coalition of lawmakers in the House of Representatives for the 2017 session of the Mississippi Legislature this week.

Gibbs told the Jackson Free Press in her pre-election interview that if she won, she plans to use her relationships in the House in order to bolster bipartisan conversations. She said education and families are two of the major policy areas important to her as well as infrastructure and community safety. Gibbs previously worked as the commissioner of the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission and the director of accounting and finance at the Mississippi Department of Human Ser— Arielle Dreher 18 vices back in the 1990s.

Marshall Fisher

Two years after Gov. Phil Bryant appointed Marshall Fisher as the commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, Fisher still has a lot of work to do, he openly admits. He is also open to several criminaljustice reforms, made possible by House Bill 585, which the Legislature passed in 2014.

This year, MDOC closed Walnut Grove Correctional Facility, which was the subject of several lawsuits when the facility imprisoned minors. MDOC claimed the prison closed due to the state’s decreasing prison population and tight budget. The State will continue to pay off its private-prison bonds until 2028 (including on Walnut Grove), which will cost the state $328.4 million.

Mississippi’s prison population numbers have dropped since 2014, but not as dramatically as it first appeared. On Dec. 15, 2014, there were 19,204 inmates in MDOC’s custody. By 2015, that number had dropped to 18,933, but 19,006 prisoners were in the state’s custody as of Dec. 18, 2016.

As the importance of alternatives to incarceration—especially for those needing mental-health care and nonviolent criminals—catches on in the state, Fisher is emerging as a leader for the changes, telling the House Corrections Committee the State is in dire need of re-entry resources and mentalhealth courts. The Legislature will have to fund alternatives and community corrections, however, so that expanding mental health, drug and re-entry courts statewide can become a reality.

—Arielle Dreher

Carolyn Meyers

Dr. Carolyn Meyers, president of Jackson State University since 2011, resigned in November amid questions the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, the governing body for the state’s public universities, voiced concerning the declining financial health of Jackson State University under her tenure.

In October, the IHL Board of Trustees hired the accounting firm of Matthews, Cutrer and Lindsay to review JSU’s financial health after reports of dwindling cash on hand. The university saw its reserve shrink from $37 million in 2012 all the way down to $4 million in 2016, per IHL estimates. At one point, JSU had enough cash on hand for about a week’s operating budget.

IHL appointed Rod Paige, who served as George W. Bush’s secretary of education, to serve as interim president until Meyers’ replacement can be found. The goal is to find a permanent president

by July 1, 2017, Paige said.

— Tim Summers Jr.

Tyrone Hendrix Imani Khayyam

The current Jackson City Council president, Ward 6 Councilman Tyrone Hendrix, faces a quagmire of a year in 2017, with budget issues and infrastructure needs growing. In addition, he must help ensure transparency within the legislative branch of municipal government as the City deals with a number of lawsuits that have the potential to cost the city money it doesn’t have.

One is the federal sexual harassment and discrimination federal lawsuit that Mayor Tony Yarber’s former executive assistant, Kimberly Bracey, filed in 2016. A few weeks ago, the council placed a potential settlement on its agenda, only to have Hendrix himself pull the item out. Later, in an interview with the Jackson Free Press, Hendrix said he would make sure that the details of the settlement are released in compliance with the state’s open-record laws.

—Tim Summers Jr.

2016

Justin Ransburg

The holiday trial of Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith continued this week as the Mississippi attorney general’s office tried to convince a Hinds County jury that Smith conspired to hinder the office’s prosecution by aiding and assisting the defense of Christopher Butler.

Whether or not the jury is unknown at press time, but the testimony of former Assistant District Attorney Ivon Johnson, who turned FBI informant after admitting to receiving bribes for lowered bonds, alleges that Smith was aware of the bribe. Smith is in his third term as Hinds district attorney, and text messages he sent and secret recordings of conversations with him indicate that he often uses some colorful language when discussing his perceived enemies. He even called Patrick Beasley, assistant attorney general and former assistant district attorney who is also black, an “Uncle Tom” in a text message.

— Tim Summers Jr.

Imani Khayyam

Robert Shuler Smith

Christopher Butler

The mysterious man at the center of the current legal struggle between Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith and the attorney general’s office is Christopher Butler. He is charged with possessing more than an ounce of drugs from a 2011 Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics bust and then separate January 2016 wire-fraud allegations, finally appeared in court. Facing what his lawyers say could be100 years behind bars, Butler chose to invoke his Fifth Amendment right to avoid incriminating himself, in case statements would hurt him at a future date.

Smith, through the arguments of his lawyer Jim Waide, has asserted repeatedly that the actions he took over the last year, the ones that resulted in his arrest in June, were all in the pursuit of justice for Butler.

— Tim Summers Jr.

If you’ve been involved in Jackson’s art community in the last few years, you’ve probably encountered Justin Ransburg, but he seemed to take the city’s art world by storm in 2016.

In the summer of last year, he became one of the tenants at The Wonder Lab, where he has been a mainstay, whether he is taking part in events such as Fondren’s First Thursday, or just hanging out and creating at the lab. At a recent FFT, he collaborated with fellow Jacksonarea artists Eli Childers and Margaret Sullivan to create a mural at Brown’s Fine Art Gallery.

At the “Damn the Man, Save the Offbeat” fundraising event in November 2016, guests watched as Ransburg live-painted a piece that featured the character Garnet from “Steven Universe” punching Gov. Phil Bryant in the face. The piece was among several that he showcased at Priced to Move, Vol. 7 in December.

Last year, the City of Jackson commissioned Ransburg to paint a traffic box in downtown, and Rainbow Co-Op commissioned him to paint a table at High Noon Café. He is also a finalist for this year’s Best Visual Artist in Best of Jackson.

To see Ransburg’s art and learn about upcoming exhibits, find him on Facebook or Instagram at @RansburgArt. — Amber Helsel

Johnnie McDaniels

Imani Khayyam

Imani Khayyam

Imani Khayyam

The Most Intriguing OF

The former Jackson prosecutor-turned-juvenile-justice-facility director Johnnie McDaniels inherited a facility laden with obligations to a federal judge to transform a jail for juveniles into a more humane and rehabilitative way station for youth.

Faced with numerous problems, including funding, McDaniels has said in interviews that he knows that juvenile justice has to embrace more facets of crime prevention in young people, including addressing the mental-health problems that could contribute to the behavior that might culminate in the beginning of a life of crime.

McDaniels, through allowing tours of his facility and openly discussing the problem of juvenile delinquency and crime, represents a change in the national and local attitude to the problem of juvenile crime.

He also openly admitted that the system failed 17-year-old Charles McDonald who a man killed near the detention center, believing he was trying to break into a car in Performance Oil’s parking lot. The accused shooter, Wayne Mitchell Parish, was indicted and arrested last week for McDonald’s murder.

— Tim Summers Jr.

Vasti Jackson

Blues musician Vasti Jackson, a legend in the capital city, was a featured performer at the Grammy Museum Mississippi during its opening in March, and a performer when the National Blues Museum in St. Louis, Mo., held its grand opening a month later.

While Jackson continued making big strides in the latter half of the year (playing at Italy’s Porretta Soul Festival in July and recording with Dr. John and Cyril Neville in August are prime examples), the achievement that received the most note near the end of 2016 was his sixth album, “The Soul of Jimmie Rodgers.”

Released in May, the acoustic record features Jackson’s reinterpretations of Rodgers’ songs and scored a Grammy Award nomination for the best traditional blues album, also going up against Jackson bluesman Bobby Rush’s “Porcupine Meat” in the category. We won’t know the winner until the 59th annual Grammy Awards air on Sunday, Feb. 12, but it’s exciting to see a longtime favorite of Mississippi blues fans getting wider-spanning attention for his work.

— Micah Smith

January 4 - 10 , 2017 • jfp.ms

During DA Robert Smith’s investigation and now trial, an old name re-emerged that is often connected with controversy and powerful people. Robert Henderson, who is known both as a reverend and by his old street name, “Too Sweet,” admitted to being the go-between of bribe proffers between men wanting their charges dropped and DA Smith and ADA Ivon Johnson.

Henderson, now 44, was close to former Mayor Frank Melton, visiting his home on the eve of the Wood Street Players trial in 2006 (alongside JFP reporters and DA Smith, then a defense attorney for one of the accused, even as Melton wanted them convicted) also present. Henderson later was at Melton’s side at his federal trial daily in 2009. In 2011, Gov. Haley Barbour pardoned Henderson for previous felonies as he was leaving office. In his pardon request, he listed references including DA Smith and one of Christopher Butler’s attorneys, Sanford Knott. He testified last week that Smith was aware of the bribes, which the DA denies.

— Donna Ladd

courtesy Vasti Jackson

Imani Khayyam

Robert “Two Sweet” Henderson

19

Forging a New Path:

own their own farms. Ayers-Elliott also trains community members. Williams’ brother, Curtis, and Charissawn Alexander and Daniel Murray currently own farms under the Foot Print umbrella, along with their one acre of land at the farm. This season, Alexander grew peanuts.

“The whole goal of this is to create entrepreneurs as well as agriculture producers,” Ayers-Elliott says. “We’ll teach them every aspect of the growing, as well as the marketing.”

Having students and others come train at the farm is valuable in improving access to healthy foods and how people look at making healthy options more available, she says. “It’s all about what we have access to; one of the focuses on the farm here for us is to bring local, fresh, affordable food to the community for the community to have access,” Ayers-Elliott says.

Foot Print is also certified as a farmers’ market, which means people can use their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Electronic Benefit Transfer cards on the farm.

“To give access to them and meet them where they

more,” Ayers-Elliott says. “We look at using technology and innovation, and what’s available and still … able to grow and supply, and make some money.”

Ayers-Elliott, an Ashland, Miss., native, says before she started the farm, she had never worked hands-on with one. She graduated from University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1977 and a master’s degree in urban planning and finance in 1990. Before 2001, she held jobs as an investment banker in San Francisco, Baltimore, Md., Washby Amber Helsel ington, D.C., and New York City, but after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, she decided to go back home to help n a frigid day in December, the slightly warm people in Mississippi. air inside one of the high tunnels, also known

She graduated from Jackson State University in as natural greenhouses, at Foot Print Farms 2004 with a doctorate degree in urban higher education. in Jackson contrasts the chilly air outside.

From 2005 to 2010, she worked as the president and Despite the cold weather and a recent chief executive officer of the Delta Foundation, a comfall drought, domestic plants, such as spinach munity- and economic-development nonprofit focused and mustard greens, and exotic ones, such as callalloo and on helping the Mississippi Delta. She also helped found pumpkins from Jamaica and mizuna from Japan, grow vithe first African American-owned bank in the state, First brantly in large wooden planters.

American Bank in Jackson, and served as an assistant to

Two tall cylinders with herbs growing out of them former State Treasurer Marshall Bennett. sit against a far wall. Every 30 min But in 2010, she changed gears utes, a low whir rings out as the water and began researching ways to help pump turns on. The cylinders, which small farmers grow their businesses. contain herbs such as parsley and baWith help from the Natural Resources sil and greens such as lettuce, are used Conservation Service and land-grant in a relatively new farming technique institutions such as Mississippi State called aeroponics, in which growers University and Alcorn State, she began suspend plants in the air instead of to convert her home in west Jackson planting them in soil. into a farm.

“One of the problems we have

Foot Print Farms currently partis always (that) you have to dig up ners with churches such as St. John something,” farm owner Cindy AyMissionary Baptist Church, which ers-Elliott says. “You have to dig it she says just received its own high up. You have to work the space. You tunnel, and Rosemont Missionary have to see what the soil is in order Baptist Church. The farm also supfor (a plant) to grow.” plies produce to the Up in Farms

But, she says, the aeroponics Food Hub in Jackson and is partners system is self-contained. The farmwith AARP, and nonprofits Wholeers have to check pH levels once a some Ways, which looks to provide week, but other than that, the system healthy, affordable and local food for allows the plants to mostly sustain everyone, and Whole Foods Markets’ (Left to right) Zachary Williams, Chrisshawn Alexander, Curtis Williams, Cindy themselves. Aeroponics also allows for Whole Cities Foundation, which Ayers-Elliott and Daniel Murray are some of the farmers at Foot Print Farms. more frequent harvesting without too supports bringing fresh, nutritious much disturbance. The system is part food and healthy-eating education to of Foot Print’s search for new ways to underserved communities. farm—and ways to get more people Over the next few months, Ayersinterested in agriculture. are, and how they buy their food—and they can now buy Elliott wants to add more of an agritourism aspect to Foot

“We’re looking at diversity within the farm itself, it from the farm here, and get it fresh and affordable—we Print. She plans on building a cabin by one of the farm’s what we can use and do to grow to add value to what we’re hope (those aspects) make an impact on their health ben- lakes. People will be able to experience aspects of life on a doing and how we can get more people—young people, efits, as well as let the people know where their food comes farm such as planting and learning archery for hunting. older people—interested and being able to grow their own from and encourage them to look at growing some them- Ayers-Elliott also wants to expand the farm’s offerings, infood and do it efficiently,” Ayers-Elliott says. selves, even if it’s in a box or if it’s in a tunnel or if it’s in a cluding preserving vegetables. She jokes that her Christmas

Zachary Williams, who is currently studying plant tower,” she says. “… There are so many different things present to herself is a large dehydrator, which she plans on science at Alcorn State University, is one of the farmers at that you can use to grow just to get some fresh food, and using to dry herbs.

Foot Print and was previously a football player at Wing- until we (can) take back our health and be able to control Foot Print also does community-supported agriculfield High School. He was one of the participants in Ay- some of the costs we’re dealing with, then we’re defeating ture, and Ayers-Elliott says the subscription plans are flexers-Elliott’s Football and Farming program at Wingfield, our purpose for a healthier life.” ible and affordable. Jacksonians can also find the farm’s which allows the players to raise money for the football Ayers-Elliott says training people and getting them to produce and other products at the Mississippi Farmers’ team and learn a new trade. understand that agriculture is a good field to go into is one Market most Saturdays.

The students train at Foot Print, and also do sweat of Foot Print’s major focuses, as well.

For more information, find Foot Print Farms (4945 equity, working to eventually earn a plot of land and

“It’s not my grandmother’s farm techniques anySouth Drive) on Facebook.

20

Foot Print Farms

O

January 4 - 10 , 2017 • jfp.ms

Imani Khayyam

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21

Out With the Old, In With the New

by Dr. Timothy Quinn

Be realistic with your goals. I have had patients tell me that they are going to lose an unhealthy amount of weight in an unreasonably quick time. I remind them that the weight gain did not happen overnight, and to be patient and persistent, which will lead to greater success and better health. Losing weight in a more gradual manner, about a pound a week, leads to a better chance of long-term weight loss.

Remember that success comes with persistence.

This includes a daily application of healthier eating and activity. I often use my medical-school training as an illustration for patients. I tell them of how we learned a chapter a week in each class for four years.

There were times when we wanted to throw the towel in, but we reminded ourselves that we must maintain persistence. The interesting relation between

medical training and adapting a healthier lifestyle is the fact that to be truly successful in both, they must continue for the rest of their lives. flickr/armymedicine

E

very year, we make our new year’s resolutions. Many of us plan to be smarter with our finances, our relationships and other areas. The most common resolution people make is to be healthier. And at the end of the day, good health is the most valuable asset that we can posses. So how can we come up with a successful plan that we can actually stick to? Here are some tips.

If your goal is to eat healthier, make sure you assess each selection you make. A good way to curb a sweet tooth is to eat fruit instead of something more unhealthy.

Associate with others who have similar goals. If you are trying to accomplish a goal, it is helpful to seek out others with the same objective. When in medical school, I learned how helpful it was to hang out with medical students for encouragement. If you are trying to be healthier, have a support system of people who may suggest going to the gym as opposed to going to the new buffet.

Minimize temptation by minimizing exposure. Make every attempt to limit access to foods that are not best for your success. I advise my patients to go to their kitchen with a big garbage bag and dispose of all selections that they consider not optimal for their new healthier lifestyle. I tell them they should take their gym clothes with them in the morning, and go straight to the gym after work and, if needed, take advantage of the child-care options at most gyms. The temptation of staying home after work when you originally planned to go back out to the gym can be overwhelming.

Consciously do an assessment of every selection.

When you are at a restaurant, and survey the menu, simply ask yourself which option is healthier. When you are deciding if you should exercise on that Saturday morning after a long week, just ask yourself which choice will make you the proudest. With the right game plan, 2017 will be your year of success.

Running the Blues

by Amber Helsel

Mile 1: JSU “Sonic

I

file photo

t’s a well-known fact that Jackson and Mississippi played a huge Jackson such as downtown, Fondren, west Jackson and northeast role in the foundation of the blues, which paved the way for Jackson. The half marathon course (13 miles) will split with the full marathon at Ridge Drive. The “Quarter Note” marathon, which is many other genres of music. six miles, will split off at Boyd Street. The As a city and culture steeped in deep fun run begins at ends in front of the Hinds musical roots, we find many ways to celCounty Courthouse. The fun run is open ebrate it, from Jackson’s music scene to to runners ages 5 to 13 and is limited to The Iron Horse Grill’s Mississippi Music 3,000 participants. The marathon will also Experience museum. Believe it or not, have music during and after the race. even running plays a part in our musical

At press time, the lineup for the finish celebration. line had not been announced.

We’re at the beginning of the year,

After participants cross the finish line, so besides making resolutions, that means they can go to a party at the Art Garden. It another thing: It’s time for the Missiswill have live music, food, drinks, activities sippi Blues Marathon. This year’s event is for kids and more.

Saturday, Jan. 7.

The night of Jan. 7, runners and locals

The pre-race expo will be at the Jackcan participate in the Blues Crawl. Race son Convention Complex (105 E. Pascaparticipants can do the crawl for free, and goula St.) on Thursday, Jan. 5, from 3 p.m. wrist bands for non-race participants are to 6 p.m., and Friday, Jan. 6, from 9 a.m.

The Mississippi Blues Marathon is $10. The Blues Trolley will transport people to 6 p.m. Runners can also pick up their Saturday, Jan. 7, in Jackson. to locations such as Old Capitol Inn, Fenipackets from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday. an’s Pub, the King Edward Hotel, Martin’s

The race begins at 7 a.m. on Saturday, Restaurant & Bar and One Block East. The Jan. 7. Most race events start and end in the Art Garden at the Mississippi Museum of Art. The marathon course trolley will run every 10 minutes between 7 p.m. and midnight.

22 is 26 miles and will take runners from the Art Garden to areas of For more information, visit msbluesmarathon.com.

January 4 - 10 , 2017 • jfp.ms

Music at the Mississippi Blues Marathon Boom,” 7 to 7:30 a.m.

Mile 5: Louis Gearshifter

Youngblood, 7:15 to 9 a.m.

Mile 6.5: Sean “Bad” Apple, 7:30 to 9:15 a.m.

Mile 10: Mark “Mule Man” Massey, 7:45 to 10 a.m.

Mile 11: Lucky Hand Blues

Band, 7:45 to 10 a.m.

Mile 12: Music to be

determined, 7:45 to 10 a.m.

Mile 15: Chris Gill, 8 to 10:45 a.m.

Mile 18: Roosevelt Roberts Jr., 8:30 to 11 a.m.

Mile 20: Scott Albert Johnson, 8:30 to noon Mile 23: Bill “Howl-N-Madd”

Perry, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Mile 25: Terry “Harmonica” Bean, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

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23

FRIDAY 1/6

SATUR DAY 1/7

TUESDAY 1/10

The Garry Burnside Band performs at Martin’s Restaurant & Bar.

An Artist’s Look with Gerard Howard is at the Mississippi Museum of Art.

“It’s Tea Time” Cooking Class is at the Farmer’s Table Cooking School in Livingston.

BEST BETS Jan. 4 - 11, 2017

The Northshore Open House is from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Northshore Children’s Center (498 Northshore Pkwy., Brandon). Participants can meet the directors, tour the facility and have coffee while learning about the childcare center. Additional date: Jan. 5, 2 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Free; call 601-724-1411; northshorerewired.com.

(Left to right) Reid Haynie, Alex Thiel and Lee Ingram of Carlos Danger perform for the Jackson Indie Music Week Rock Showcase on Monday, Jan. 9, at CS’s.

courtesy Carlos Danger

WEDNESDAY 1/4

THURSDAY 1/5

courtesy Ardenland

“Macramé—A Knotted Skein in History” is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Fat Cat Art Café (5352 Highway 25, Suite 1700, Flowood). Audry Dionisia Bishop teaches participants macramé techniques. Free; call 601-992-6553; email fatcatceramicshop@gmail.com; find it on Facebook.

SATURDAY 1/7

The 2017 Mississippi Blues Marathon begins at 7 a.m. at the Mississippi Museum of Art (380 S. Lamar St.) in the Art Garden. Blue Cross Blue Shield is the host. The 10th annual marathon features live music before, after and throughout the course. $65 quarter marathon, $110 half marathon, $120 full marathon; call 601-624-7882; email info@msbluesmarathon.com; msbluesmarathon.com.

SUNDAY 1/8

The Premier Wedding Show is from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at

by TYLER EDWARDS the Jackson Convention Complex (105 E. Pascagoula St.). Participants meet coordinators, dejacksonfreepress.com signers, photographers and other Fax: 601-510-9019 industry professionals. Includes Daily updates at cake tasting, runway shows, givejfpevents.com aways, photo booths and more. $25 at the door, $20 online, $55 VIP; call 601-957-1050; find it on Facebook. … The Jackson Indie Music Week Kick-Off Party & Bonfire is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Lucky Town Brewing Company (1710 N. Mill St.). Includes drinks, food from Iron Horse Grill, a bonfire and performances from Mildred Noor and the Jason Daniels Band. $40 all-event pass, $15 all-day pass, $5 admission; email jxnindiemusic@ gmail.com; jxnindiemusic.com.

January 4 - 10 , 2017 • jfp.ms

events@

(Left to right) Tikyra Jackson, Daniel McKee, Ori Naftaly (seated) and Tierinii Jackson of Memphis-based blues band Southern Avenue perform Friday, Jan. 6, at Duling Hall.

FRIDAY 1/6

Southern Avenue performs at 8 p.m. at Duling Hall (622 Duling Ave.). The Memphis-based band is a 2016 International Blues Challenge finalist. Doors open at 7 p.m. $5 in advance, $10 at the door, $3 surcharge for patrons 24 under 21; call 877-987-6487; ardenland.net.

MONDAY 1/9

Jackson Indie Music Week Rock Showcase is from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at CS’s (1359-1/2 N. West St.). The Empty Handed Painters, Carlos Danger and Spacewolf perform. $40 all-event pass, $15 all-day pass, $5 admission; email jxnindiemusic@gmail.com; jxnindiemusic.com.

TUESDAY 1/10

The Jackson Indie Music Week “Women in Music” Panel Discussion is from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Thalia Mara Hall (255 E. Pascagoula St.). Speakers such as Tawanna Shaunte, Sherry Cothren and Teneia Sanders share experiences from their journeys as women in a highpowered business, best practices in the industry, and what it takes to be a successful independent artist. Free; email jxn indiemusic@gmail.com; jxnindiemusic.com.

WEDNESDAY 1/11

The Jackson Indie Music Week Blender is from 7 p.m. to midnight in downtown Jackson. Venues include Jaco’s Tacos (318 S. State St.), Hal & Mal’s (200 S. Commerce St.), One Block East (642 Tombigbee St.) and Martin’s Restaurant & Bar (214 S. State St.). Alfred Banks, Throwaways, Fides, Coke Bumaye, Skipp Coon, Passing Parade, And the Echo, Dream Cult, Revel in Romance and more perform. For a full schedule, see pg. 26. $40 all-event pass, $15 all-day pass, $5 admission; email jxnindiemusic@ gmail.com; jxnindiemusic.com.

January Jumpstart Conference Jan. 7, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at The Church Triumphant Global (6531 Dogwood View Pkwy.). Pastor Tonya Ware, Dr. Freda Bush and EPWA President Kathy Amos speak on the empowerment of women. Features a special free session for youth and teens ages 12 to 17 at noon. $30; call 601-977-0007.

Queening the Runway Jan. 7, 2-5 p.m., at Black’s Chapel M.B. Church (3425 Robinson St.). The fashion show is designed to empower young girls, boost their confidence and features mentoring groups. $10, $5 ages 4-10; email risingqueens16@gmail.com; find it on Facebook.

Premier Wedding Show Jan. 8, 1-5 p.m., at Jackson Convention Complex (105 E. Pascagoula St.). Participants meet coordinators, designers, photographers and other industry professionals.

Includes cake tasting, runway shows, giveaways, photo booths and more $25 at the door, $20 online, $55 VIP; find it on Facebook.

Women for Progress January Lunch & Learn Jan. 10, noon, at Next Level Experience (3645 Highway 80 W.). The guest speaker is community activist and City of Jackson Councilman De’Keither Stamps. RSVP required. $11 with lunch; call 601-214-3702; email mail@womenforprogress.net; mail@womenforprogress.net.

Jackson Indie Music Week—Women in Music Panel Discussion Jan. 10, 5:30-6:30 p.m., at Thalia Mara Hall (255 E. Pascagoula St.). Speakers such as Tawanna Shaunte, Sherry Cothren and Teneia Sanders share experiences from their journeys as women in a high-powered business, best practices in the industry, and what it takes to be a successful independent artist. Free; email jxnindiemusic@gmail.com; jxnindiemusic.com.

KIDS Hoot and Holler Family Creation Lab Jan. 8, 2-3:30 p.m., at Mississippi Museum of Art (380 S. Lamar St.). On the second Sunday of each month, a museum educator leads parents and children ages 6-10 in conversations about art and a hands-on art project. $10 per child; call 601960-1515; email afarcus@msmuseumart.org; msmuseumart.org.

SPORTS & WELLNESS 2017 Mississippi Blues Marathon Jan. 7, 7 a.m., at Mississippi Museum of Art (380 S. Lamar St.). Blue Cross Blue Shield is the host. The 10th annual marathon features music before, after and throughout the course. $65 quarter, $110 half, $120 full marathon; email info@msbluesmarathon.com; msbluesmarathon.com.

FXR Racing Arenacross Tour Jan. 7, 7 p.m., at Kirk Fordice Equine Center (451 Monroe St.). Round four of the southern motocross tour includes races featuring amateur and professional riders. $28.50; call 601-961-4000; ride365.com.

Racing Vehicle Extravaganza Jan. 7-8, 9 a.m.5 p.m., at Mississippi Trade Mart (1200 Mississippi St.). Features six cars and drivers from the Discovery Channel’s “The Street Outlaws,” including Kye Kelley and Bobby Ducote. $12 admission, $5 for ages 6-12, free for under 6; email wsbissell@aol.com; find it on Facebook.

CONCERTS & FESTIVALS Events at Martin’s Restaurant & Bar (214 S. State St.) • Ships in the Night & Jaguardini Jan. 5, 9 p.m. The experimental electronic artists’ split EP is titled “Wire & Light.” $10 admission; call 601-354-9712; martinslounge.net.

• Garry Burnside Band Jan. 6, 10 p.m. The Holly Springs-based musician is the son of blues legend R.L. Burnside. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission TBA; call 601-354-9712;

SLATE

Jackson Indie Music Week Kick-Off Party & Bonfire Jan. 8, 6-9 p.m., at Lucky Town Brewing Company (1710 N. Mill St.). The Indie Music Week launch event includes drinks, food from Iron Horse Grill, a bonfire and music from Mildred Noor and the Jason Daniels Band. $40 all-event pass, $5 admission; email jxnindiemusic@gmail.com; jxnindiemusic.com.

Events at Hal & Mal’s (200 Commerce St.) • Jackson Indie Music Week—Blue Monday Jan. 9, 7-11 p.m. The Central Mississippi Blues Society hosts a special blues jam event.

the best in sports over the next seven days

by Bryan Flynn One thing is certain in these NFL Playoffs: A different team will walk away with the Lombardi Trophy this year. Both the Denver Broncos and last season’s runner-up, the Carolina Panthers, failed to reach the postseason.

Thursday, Jan. 5

College basketball (7-9 p.m., SECN+): Pull out the tablet and laptop as both the UM and MSU women stream at the same time, with the Rebels taking on the Crimson Tide, and the Bulldogs battling the Razorbacks.

Friday, Jan. 6

NBA (9:30 p.m.-midnight, ESPN): A slow sports night means tuning in as the Memphis Grizzlies hit the court against the Golden State Warriors.

Saturday, Jan. 7

NFL (3:30-7 p.m., ABC/ESPN): Watch some NFL playoff wildcard action between the Oakland Raiders and the Houston Texans. … NFL (7-11 p.m., NBC): NFL playoff wildcard games continue, as the Seattle Seahawks host the Detroit Lions.

Sunday, Jan. 8

NFL (noon-3:30 p.m., CBS): The Pittsburgh Steelers host the Miami Dolphins in the wildcard round. …

NFL (3:30-7 p.m., FOX): Two historic

martinslounge.net.

• Lightnin’ Malcolm Band & Shake It Like a Caveman Jan. 7, 10 p.m. Malcolm is a Blues Music Award-winning multi-instrumentalist, and Shake It Like a Caveman is a one-man band that plays hill-country-inspired dance music. Admission TBA; martinslounge.net.

• Jackson Indie Music Week—Blender Jan. 11, 8 p.m.-midnight. Alfred Banks, Revel in Romance, Ray Kincaid, BARK. and Betzenzo perform. $40 all-event pass, $15 all-day pass, $5 admisson; email jxnindiemusic@gmail.com; jxnindiemusic.com.

Southern Avenue Jan. 6, 8 p.m., at Duling Hall (622 Duling Ave.). The Memphis-based band is a 2016 International Blues Challenge finalist.

Doors open at 7 p.m. $5 in advance, $10 at the door, $3 surcharge for patrons under 21; call 877-987-6487; ardenland.net.

franchises meet in the wildcard round, as the Green Bay Packers host the New York Giants.

Monday, Jan. 9

College football (7-11 p.m., ESPN): Watch the final college-football game of the season, as the Alabama Crimson Tide clashes with the Clemson Tigers in a rematch of the previous title game.

Tuesday, Jan. 10

College basketball (8-10 p.m., SECN): The MSU men hit the road to battle the Arkansas Razorbacks in SEC play.

Wednesday, Jan. 11

College basketball (6-8 p.m., ESPNU): The UM Rebels men host the Georgia Bulldogs in conference play.

The New Orleans Saints finished their third consecutive 7-9 season and missed the playoffs for the third straight season, as well. New Orleans has been absent from the playoffs in four of the last five seasons.

Follow Bryan Flynn at jfpsports.com, @jfpsports $40 all-event pass, $5 admission; email jxnindiemusic@gmail.com; jxnindiemusic.com.

• Jackson Indie Music Week—Blender Jan. 11, 7-9:30 p.m. The Ellie Badge, Skipp Coon, Passing Parade and Coke Bumaye perform. $40 all-event pass, $15 all-day pass, $5 admisson; jxnindiemusic.com.

Jackson Indie Music Week—Rock Showcase Jan. 9, 7-11 p.m., at CS’s (1359 N. West St.).

The Empty Handed Painters, Carlos Danger and Spacewolf perform. $40 all-event pass, $15 all-day pass, $5 admisson; email jxnindiemusic@ gmail.com; jxnindiemusic.com.

Jackson Indie Music Week—Women’s Showcase Jan. 10, 7-10 p.m., at Hops & Habanas (2771 Old Canton Road). Betsy Berryhill, Yung Jewelz and SIKA perform. $40 all-event pass, $15 all-day pass, $5 admission; email jxnindiemusic@gmail.com; jxnindiemusic.com.

Jackson Indie Music Week—Blender Jan. 11, 7-9 p.m., at Jaco’s Tacos (318 S. State St.).

Throwaways and Fides perform. $40 all-event pass, $15 all-day pass, $5 admission; email jxnindiemusic@gmail.com; jxnindiemusic.com.

Jackson Indie Music Week—Blender Jan. 11, 9 p.m.-midnight, at One Block East (642 Tombigbee St.). Shawty 4’8″, Dream Cult and And the Echo perform. $40 all-event pass, $15 all-day pass, $5 admission; email jxnindiemusic@gmail. com; jxnindiemusic.com.

EXHIBIT OPENINGS Events at Mississippi Museum of Art (380 S. Lamar St.) • Art & Coffee Jan. 7, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Participants discuss current and upcoming exhibitions with the museum staff. Includes coffee and pastries. Free admission; call 601960-1515; msmuseumart.org.

• An Artist’s Look with Gerard Howard Jan. 7, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Videographer, photographer, radio host and musician Howard shares personal reflections and connections on his own work as well as those of other artists featured in the 2016 Mississippi Invitational. $10, $5 for members (includes admission to the exhibit); call 960-1515; msmuseumart.org.

CREATIVE CLASSES Writing to Change the World Jan. 7, Jan. 21, Feb. 4, Feb. 25, March 4, noon-2:30 p.m., at Jackson Free Press (125 S. Congress St., Suite 1324). The Jackson Free Press’ Editor-in-Chief Donna Ladd teaches the creative non-fiction writing-class series. Participants can also join online or listen to recorded classes for missed sessions. $350 (includes workbook and snacks); email class@writingtochange.com; writingtochange.com. One spot left.

Events at Farmer’s Table Cooking School in Livingston (1030 Market St., Flora) • Pies and Tarts Workshop Jan. 5, 10 a.m.noon. Participants learn to roll and cut pie dough, repair cracks and tears, prevent burnt edges and more. $49; call 601-506-6821; farmerstableinlivingston.com.

• “Gluten Free Brunch” Cooking Class Jan. 6, 10 a.m.-noon. Participants learn to make melon salad, spinach, shrimp and potato hash, eggs Benedict and banana nut bread with whipped honey butter. $59; call 601-5066821; farmerstableinlivingston.com.

• “Thai Date Night” Cooking Class Jan. 6, 6-8:30 p.m. Participants learn to cook Thai chopped salad, wok-fried lemongrass chicken with vegetables, coconut sticky rice with fresh mango and lemon ice cream with toasted coconut. $79; farmerstableinlivingston.com.

• “It’s Tea Time” Cooking Class Jan. 10, 10 a.m.-noon. Participants learn to make tea sandwiches, scones and bite-sized desserts. $49; call 601-506-6821; farmerstableinlivingston.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.

January 4 - 10 , 2017 • jfp.ms

COMMUNITY

25

DIVERSIONS | music

T

he second annual Jackson Indie Music Week is approaching fast, with many concerts, showcases, panel discussions, and other activities that highlight music from around the state, the region and the country.

It can be tough to navigate all the events, and you will want to make sure you aren’t on the wrong side of town as your favorite acts take the stage.

Here’s a handy rundown to help.

Sunday, Jan. 8

This year’s Jackson Indie Music Week launches with a kick-off party and bonfire from 6 to 9 p.m. at Lucky Town Brewing Co. (1710 N. Mill St.). Local hip-hop artist Mildred Noor and the Jason Daniels Band, a Jackson-based roots outfit, will perform, and The Iron Horse Grill is catering.

Skipp Coon and Coke Bumaye, and rock‘n’-roll band Passing Parade perform at Hal & Mal’s from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Martin’s Restaurant & Bar (214 S. State St.) hosts performances from New Orleans rapper Alfred Banks, Georgia poprockers Revel in Romance, Jackson rapper Ray Kincaid, Knoxville, Tenn., rock duo BARK. and Cleveland, Miss., jazz act Betzenzo from 8 p.m. to midnight.

hosting a singer-songwriter showcase with music from Mississippi artists Caitlyn Spane, Joshua Waters, Codetta South and Andrew Bryant from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Afterward, you can head down the hill to Fondren Underground (2906 N. State St.) from 10 p.m. to midnight for the Icon Awards After-Party, where Hattiesburg funk-jazz-fusion band Friends Fly South will perform.

Indie Music Week Ins and Outs

by Micah Smith

Monday, Jan. 9

Monday features the first “Sophie’s Choice” moment for JIMW concert-goers.

Hal & Mal’s (200 S. Commerce St.) hosts the Central Mississippi Blues Society’s Blue Monday at 8 p.m., and CS’s (1359-1/2 N. West St.) presents a rock showcase from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., with music from experimental act The Empty Handed Painters, progressive-rockers Carlos Danger and post-grunge band Spacewolf.

Tuesday, Jan. 10

JIMW delivers two women-focused activities to Tuesday night, and both are worth checking out no matter your gender. For the first event, which takes place at 5:30 p.m. on the mezzanine level at Thalia Mara Hall (255 E. Pascagoula St.), Jackson singer-songwriters Tawanna Shaunte, Sherry Cothren and Teneia Sanders, along with moderator Amanda Furdge, participate in a panel discussion on the current climate for women in the entertainment world.

Then, head over to Hops & Habanas (2771 Old Canton Road) for a women’s showcase featuring performances from Brookhaven, Miss.-based singer-songwriter Betsy Berryhill, Jackson hip-hop artist Yung Jewelz and neo-soul-hop act SIKA.

January 4 - 10 , 2017 • jfp.ms

Wednesday, Jan. 11

There is only one JIMW event for Wednesday—at least one in name. Garrad Lee and Cody Cox present the latest installment of their Blender concert series, and this time around, it’s a four-pronged attack on downtown.

Jaco’s Tacos (318 S. State St.) hosts Clinton-native indie-rock band Fides from and Jackson rockers Throwaways from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Memphis indie-rock act 26 The Ellie Badge, Jackson hip-hop artists

The second annual Jackson Indie Music Week, which takes place Jan. 8-15, includes a variety of concerts, showcases and music-industry panels.

Then, from 9 p.m. to midnight, you can catch local acts, rapper Shawty 4’8” and indie-rock band Dream Cult, along with Oxford, Miss.-based electronic act And the Echo at One Block East (642 Tombigbee St.).

Thursday, Jan. 12

First up for Thursday’s offerings is the annual ICON Awards from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Duling Hall (622 Duling Ave).

Honorees this year include Jackson Music Awards founders Jesse Thompson and Lee King, rock band Lillian Axe, Hal & Mal’s owner and founder of Jubilee JAM Malcolm White, and blues artist Pat Brown. The awards program will also feature a showcase with performances from R&B and soul artists such as JackieJackie, JROC, Los Brown, Rashad Smith and Marc Hughes.

If you’re looking for a less formal event, Sneaky Beans (2914 N. State St.) is

Friday, Jan. 13

With the weekend, Jackson Indie Music Week delivers even more concerts, showcases and other activities. First up is the festival’s second music-industry panel, Do the Knowledge, which takes place at Hal & Mal’s from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Entertainment attorney Kamel King, local show promoter Caleb Rowe and touring deejay T-Lewis, along with moderator Garrad Lee, will share their experiences and tips from their trade.

Stay after the panel for the “Live from the Underground” Hip-Hop Concert featuring Meridian native Big Sant, Hollywood Luck, 5th Child, Savvy, Sir Flywalker and E1ght from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

For a change of scenery, JIMW will offer a showcase at Fenian’s Pub (901 E. Fortification St.) from 9 p.m. to midnight, with performances from Jackson-based artists El Obo, Alex Fraser & the Vagrant

Family Band, Jason Mathena and Clouds & Crayons. Night owls can also head to F. Jones Corner (303 N. Farish St.) from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. for a late-night party featuring the Jason Turner Band.

Saturday, Jan. 14

Start your JIMW celebration early Saturday with the day party at Kemistry Sports Bar & Hookah Lounge (3716 Interstate 55 N. Frontage Road) from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., with acts such as Tuscaloosa, Ala.-based progressive-rock band Seismos, electronic artist Argiflex from Cleveland, Miss., and Jackson deejay leon grey.

Festival-goers can head to The Reclaimed Miles (140 Wesley Ave.) for a music-video showcase at 6 p.m. with works from Clouds & Crayons, 5th Child, Chief Lion, TDashMo, Yung Cymba and Arab.

From 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., Offbeat (151 Wesley Ave.) hosts a hip-hop showcase with Mississippi rappers devMaccc, Mack Life and Mr. Fluid, as well as Chicago rapper Tiio-Etienne and Baton Rouge, La., hip-hop artist Marcel P. Black.

Saturday’s last event is an EDM party at the Russell C. Davis Planetarium (201 E. Pascagoula St.), with DJ Tree, 360 Degrees, DJ Uri, DJ Repercussion, Taboo, DJ Tam, Daphya Selecta, Rob Roy and Monoxide from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Sunday, Jan. 15

Sunday may bring the end of 2017’s Jackson Indie Music Week, but the festival goes out with a bang instead of a whimper, starting with the Because Brunch event from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Green Ghost Tacos (2801 N. State St.) in Fondren with deejay leon grey.

Afterward, walk a few blocks over to Cups Espresso Café (2757 Old Canton Road) in Fondren for “#NEWWAVE: An Under-21 Showcase,” from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Performers include Tribe 3, Krystal Jackson and Surfwax.

From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., head back downtown to Russell C. Davis Planetarium for a short-film showcase with works from filmmakers such as Jordan Henry, Ashley Norwood, Isabella Kinder, Thomas Haffey and Charles Jett. And lastly, JIMW closes with its official wrap party from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at AND Gallery (133 Millsaps Ave.), with music from Stonewalls with a special guest deejay to be announced.

Jackson Indie Music Week 2017 is from Jan. 8-15. All-event passes are $40, and singleday passes are $15. Individual events are $5, except for the ICON Awards and the “Live from the Underground’ Hip-Hop Concert, which are $10 each. For schedule updates, visit jxnindiemusic.com.

Jan. 4 - Wednesday

Ben Matheny: Mississippi-Made

by Tyler Edwards

A

ctor, writer and film producer Ben Matheny isn’t shy about his pride for his Mississippi roots.

“I feel lucky to have grown up in Mississippi,” the Ocean Springs native says. “There was a lot of emphasis on the arts in my childhood, due to the emphasis on the arts in Mississippi. We have a proud … artistic heritage with some terrific writers and artists through the ages, and I’m really happy I grew up in a state where that was nurtured.”

Matheny graduated from Oak Grove

Music listings are due noon Monday to be included in print and online listings: music@jacksonfreepress.com.

That year, the group began working to turn the short into a feature film and began trying to produce it in 2015. They launched a Kickstarter campaign in November 2016 for “Easy Does It,” which exceeded its goal of $25,000 by $564.

“It’s a free-wheeling adventure-comedy about two best friends robbing their way across the Southwest in search of the American dream,” Matheny says of the film. “It’s one part ‘Thelma and Louise’ and one part ‘Easy Rider.’”

Set in the early ’70s, “Easy Does It”

Char - Tommie Vaughn 6 p.m.

Fitzgerald’s - Hunter Gibson 7:30 p.m.

Kathryn’s - Larry Brewer & Doug Hurd 6:30 p.m. free Pelican Cove - Open Mic Night w/ Stace & Cassie 6 p.m.

Shucker’s - The Silverado Band 7:30 p.m. free

Jan. 5 - Thursday

Courtesy Ben Matheny

Burgers & Blues - Jesse Smith 6 p.m.

Char - Tommie Vaughn 6 p.m.

F. Jones Corner - Blues Challenge w/ Dexter Allen 10 p.m.

Fitzgerald’s - Sonny Brooks & Don Grant 7:30 p.m.

Georgia Blue, Flowood - Jason Turner Iron Horse Grill - Jimmy “Duck” Holmes 6 p.m.

Kathryn’s - Sid Thompson & DoubleShotz 6:30-9:30 p.m. free Martin’s - Ships in the Night w/ Jaguardini 9 p.m. $10 Pelican Cove - Robin Blakeney 6 p.m.

Shucker’s - Sofa Kings 7:30 p.m. free Soulshine, Flowood - Jonathan Alexander 7-9 p.m. free Sylvia’s - Thursday Night Live feat.

The Blues Man & Sunshine McGhee 9 p.m. free

Jan. 6 - Friday

(Left to right) Director Will Addison, and actor and co-creator Ben Matheny will star in the feature film “Easy Does It,” which they largely plan to shoot in Mississippi.

High School in Hattiesburg in 2007 before attending the University of New Orleans, where he earned his a bachelor’s degree in film arts in 2011. Afterward, he stayed in New Orleans to work in the film industry.

“I got really lucky; I got to cut my teeth working on these huge productions, stuff like ‘True Detective,’ ‘12 Years a Slave,’ all these really big projects,” he says. “I graduated school, and there were the jobs.”

Matheny also continued acting but says he knew that he also wanted to write and direct in order to create his own content. He and some friends from film school began EFI Productions, and the group started working on music videos, commercials, training videos, or “whatever walked through the door,” Matheny says.

Around 2014, the group decided it was a good time to start working on independent film projects after one of his friends created a short film called “Easy Does It.” Matheny and his friends made short films and web series all the time, but he says this one was something special.

presents almost a fantasy version of the American South, Matheny says, describing the film’s co-writer and director Will Addison’s visual aesthetic as similar to that of Wes Anderson mixed with the dark comedy of the Coen brothers. Even though they will be filming mostly in Mississippi, the movie is set across much of the Southwest, in addition to the Magnolia State.

“One thing amazing about Mississippi is that it has a lot of diverse locations,” Matheny says.

Mississippi has flexed its film muscles over the past few years in this regard, with 2016’s “The Duel” set in rural western Texas but filmed around Greenwood, Miss., 2014’s “Get On Up,” which featured Natchez eateries and filmed in Jackson, and 2011’s “The Help,” which was filmed in Greenwood and Jackson.

While Mississippi has room to grow in its relationship to the national film industry, Matheny says he is impressed by what his home state has to offer.

Visit easydoesitmovie.com..

Castlewoods Country Club, Brandon - James Bailey & Linda Blackwell 6-9 p.m.

Char - Ronnie Brown 6 p.m.

Duling Hall - Southern Avenue 8 p.m. $5 advance $10 door ardenland.net F. Jones Corner - The Blues Man 10 p.m. $1; Mr. Dillon & the Jukebox midnight $10 Fenian’s - Becca Rose 10 p.m. free Fitzgerald’s - Doug Hurd 7:30 p.m.

Georgia Blue, Flowood - Andy Tanas.

Iron Horse Grill - Wes Lee 9 p.m.

Kathryn’s - Shadz of Grey 7 p.m. free M Bar - Flirt Fridays feat. DJ 901 free Martin’s - Garry Burnside Band 10 p.m.

Pelican Cove - Don Evans 6-10 p.m. free Shucker’s - Ron Etheridge 5:30 p.m. free; Hunter & the Gators 8 p.m. $5; Josh Turner 10 p.m.

Soulshine, Flowood - Daniel Gilbert & George Ates 7 p.m. free Soulshine, Ridgeland - Jonathan Alexander 8 p.m. free WonderLust - DJ Taboo 8 p.m.2 a.m.

Jan. 7 - Saturday Ameristar Bottleneck Blues Bar, Vicksburg - Mr. Sipp 8 p.m. $10 Burgers & Blues - Acoustic Crossroads 6 p.m.

F. Jones Corner - Big Money Mel & Small Change Wayne 10 p.m. $1; Sherman Lee Dillon & the MS Sound midnight $10 Georgia Blue, Flowood - Brian Jones The Hideaway - Burnham Road 6 p.m. $10 Kathryn’s - Faze 4 7 p.m. free Martin’s - Lightnin’ Malcolm w/ Shake It Like a Caveman 10 p.m.

Pelican Cove - Jonathan Alexander 6 p.m.

Mildred Noor Shucker’s - Acoustic Crossroads 3:30 p.m. free; Hunter & the Gators 8 p.m. $5; Jonathan Alexander 10 p.m. free Soulshine, Flowood - Barry Leach 7 p.m. free Soulshine, Ridgeland - Stace & Cassie 8 p.m. free WonderLust - Drag Performance & Dance Party feat. DJ Taboo 8 p.m.-3 a.m. free before 10 p.m.

Jan. 8 - Sunday Burgers & Blues - Chris Link & Doug Hurd Char - Big Easy Three 11 a.m.; Tommie Vaughn 6 p.m.

The Hideaway - Mike & Marty’s Jam Session Kathryn’s - Road Hogs 6 p.m. free Lucky Town - JXN Indie Music Week Kick-off & Bonfire feat.

Mildred Noor & Jason Daniels Band 6-9 p.m. $5 admission $40 all-event pass Pelican Cove - Andrew Pates 11 a.m.; Hunter Gibson & Ronnie McGee 4 p.m.

Shucker’s - The Axe-identals 3:30 p.m. free Table 100 - Jazz Brunch feat.

Raphael Semmes Trio 11 a.m.

Wellington’s - Andy Hardwick 11 a.m.

Jan. 9 - Monday Char - Tommie Vaughn 6 p.m.

CS’s - JXN Indie Music Week Rock Showcase feat. Empty Handed Painters, Carlos Danger & Spacewolf 7-11 p.m. $5 admission $15 single-day pass $40 all-event pass Hal & Mal’s - JXN Indie Music Week Blue Monday feat.

Central MS Blues Society 8 p.m. $5 admission $15 singleday pass $40 all-event pass

Jan. 10 - Tuesday Char - Tommie Vaughn 6 p.m.

Fenian’s - Open Mic Fitzgerald’s - Hunter Gibson & Rick Moreira 7:30-11:30 p.m.

Hops & Habanas, Fondren - JXN Indie Music Week Women’s Showcase feat. Betsy Berryhill, Yung Jewelz & SIKA 7-10 p.m. $5 admission $15 single-day pass $40 all-event pass Kathryn’s - Andrew Pates 6:30 p.m. free Last Call Sports Grill - Top-Shelf Tuesdays feat. DJ Spoon 9 p.m.

Margarita’s - John Mora 6 p.m.

Jan. 11 - Wednesday Char - Tommie Vaughn 6 p.m.

Fitzgerald’s - Sonny Brooks, Don Grant & Chris Link 7:30 p.m.

Hal & Mal’s - JXN Indie Music Week Blender feat. The Ellie Badge, Skipp Coon, Passing Parade & Coke Bumaye 7-9:30 p.m. $5 admission $40 all-event pass Jaco’s Tacos - JXN Indie Music Week Blender feat.

Throwaways & Fides 7-9 p.m.

Martin’s - JXN Indie Music Week Blender feat. Alfred Banks, Revel in Romance, Ray Kincaid, BARK. & Betzenzo 8 p.m. $5 admission $15 single-day pass $40 all-event pass One Block East - JXN Indie Music Week Blender feat. Shawty 4’8”, Dream Cult & And the Echo 9 p.m.-midnight $5 admission $15 single-day pass $40 all-event pass Pelican Cove - Andy Tanas 6 p.m.

Shucker’s - Shayne Weems 7:30 p.m. free

1/5 - Brothers Osborne - House of Blues, New Orleans 1/6 - Jamey Johnson - Iron City, Birmingham 1/6 - Gregg Allman - Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi 1/7 - The Cerny Brothers - Proud Larry’s, Oxford 1/10 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Smoothie King Center, New Orleans 1/11 - Dweezil Zappa - Vinly Music Hall, Pensacola

January 4 - 10 , 2017 • jfp.ms

MUSIC | live

Courtesy Mildred Noor

DIVERSIONS | arts

27

BY MATT JONES

47 “All in the Family” daughter 49 “New Look” designer Christian 51 Person of the Year awarder 53 “___ Wedding” (“Simpsons” episode involving a fortune-teller) 54 Place walked into, in classic jokes 56 Cash register part 58 Aloha State goose 59 Winter product also known as rock salt 62 Lacking much flavor 64 “___ G. Biv” (They Might Be Giants tune) 65 Look inward?

70 Crater Lake’s st.

71 “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” refrain 72 Geometrical findings 73 “Game of Thrones” patriarch ___ Stark 74 Hit with a stun gun 75 Justin Timberlake’s former group

27 Steve who played Mr. Pink 30 “Just a ___ like one of us” (Joan Osborne line) 32 Word with bird or fight 34 Sea off Sicily 35 Prepare for shipping 37 “This won’t hurt ___!”

39 Water source 43 “Taste the Rainbow” candy 48 Pigs, slangily 50 Aries beast 52 Jake’s brother in blues 55 Prepare for another take

57 Country with a tree on its flag: Abbr.

59 Flatten out 60 Feature of some Ben & Jerry’s pints 61 “Return of the Jedi” princess 63 “___ example ...”

66 “Bah!” 67 “Curious George” author H.A. ___ 68 Singer Morrison 69 “Exit full screen” button ©2016 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@ jonesincrosswords.com)

For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 cents per minute. Must be 18+. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800 655-6548. Reference puzzle #805.

BY MATT JONES

Down

“Oh, Be Serious!” —they’re seriously in there.

Across

1 Collapsible game?

6 Chris of the “Fantastic Four” series 11 Agcy. of the Department of Health and Human Services 14 Stress, cigarettes, handing car keys to your teen, e.g.

15 1976 Olympics star Comaneci 16 Letters on a tombstone 17 Comedian Mandel, shaped like an oval?

19 Mentalist’s claim 20 “The BFG” author Roald 21 Word on some campaign signs 23 Station posting, briefly

26 Japanese buckwheat noodle 28 Also 29 Barbecue needs 31 Noted streak enders of 2016 33 “___’s Irish Rose” 36 “Who’s the Boss?” role 38 Like some news days 40 Actor Max ___ Sydow 41 Good bud 42 Indecent, or a description of this puzzle theme?

44 Abbr. at the bottom of a business letter 45 Linguistic suffix with morph or phon 46 Vehicle with its own path

1 God, to a Rastafarian 2 I trouble?

3 Unaware of office politics, maybe 4 Pancake cooking surface 5 On the blue 6 As a group, in French 7 “Top Gun” actor Kilmer 8 Too cute for words 9 The yellow striped ball 10 Bob of “Fuller House” 11 Side of the coin that comes at no cost?

12 Platter shape 13 Abbr. in an organizer 18 Exclamations of surprise 22 Mauna ___ 23 Suffix after land or man 24 Video game company with a famous cheat code 25 Philadelphia NFLer followed his coach’s orders?

Last Week’s Answers

Last Week’s Answers

“Kaidoku”

Each of the 26 letters of the alphabet is represented in this grid by a number between 1 and 26. Using letter frequency, word-pattern recognition and the numbers as your guides, fill in the grid with well-known English words (HINT: since a Q is always followed by a U, try hunting down the Q first). Only lowercase, unhyphenated words are allowed in kaidoku, so you won’t see anything like STOCKHOLM or LONG-LOST in here (but you might see AFGHAN, since it has an uncapitalized meaning, too). Now stop wasting my precious time and SOLVE! psychosudoku@gmail.com

January 4 - 10 , 2017 • jfp.ms

the gift of one cup of coffee or a dozen cups in a little black card

28

What do you like about St. Alexis?

Lisa Catledge says “My favorite thing about St. Alexis is the church community and the liturgy that draws me closer to God.”

650 E.South Street • Jackson • 601.944.0415 Sunday Services: 10:00am & 6:00pm

St. Alexis

Episcopal Church

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):

I thought of you when I read a tweet by a person who calls himself Vexing Voidsquid. “I feel imbued with a mysterious positive energy,” he wrote, “as if thousands of supplicants are worshipping golden statues of me somewhere.” Given the astrological omens, I think it’s quite possible you will have similar feelings on regular occasions in 2017. I’m not necessarily saying there will literally be golden statues of you in town squares and religious shrines, nor am I guaranteeing that thousands of supplicants will telepathically bathe you in adoration. But who cares how you’re imbued with mysterious positive energy as long as you are?

When it’s summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the birds known as arctic terns hang out in Greenland and Iceland.

Before the chill sets in, they embark on an epic migration to Antarctica, arriving in time for another summer. But when the weather begins to turn too cold there, they head to the far north again. This is their yearly routine. In the course of a lifetime, a single bird may travel as far as 1.25 million miles—the equivalent of three roundtrips to the moon. I propose that you make this creature your spirit animal in 2017, Aquarius. May the arctic tern inspire you to journey as far as necessary to fulfill your personal equivalent of a quest for endless summer.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):

In June 1962, three prisoners sneaked out of the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, located on an island in San Francisco Bay. Did they succeed in escaping? Did they swim to safety through the frigid water and start new lives abroad? No one knows. Law enforcement officials never found them. Even today, though, the U.S. Marshals Service keeps the case open, and still investigates new evidence when it comes in. Are there comparable enigmas in your own life, Pisces? Events in your past that raised questions you’ve never been able to solve? In 2017, I bet you will finally get to the bottom of them.

ARIES (March 21-April 19):

Light, electricity and magnetism are different expressions of a single phenomenon. Scottish scientist and mathematician James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879) was the first to formulate a theory to explain that startling fact. One of the cornerstones of his work was a set of 20 equations with 20 unknowns. But a younger scientist named Oliver Heaviside decided this was much too complicated. He recast Maxwell’s cumbersome theory in the form of four equations with four unknowns. That became the new standard. In 2017, I believe you Aries will have a knack akin to Heaviside’s. You’ll see the concise essentials obscured by needless complexity. You’ll extract the shining truths trapped inside messy confusions.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20):

“The thornbush is the old obstacle in the road,” wrote Franz Kafka. “It must catch fire if you want to go further.” Let’s analyze this thought, Taurus. If it’s to be of maximum use for you in 2017, we will have to develop it further. So here are my questions. Did Kafka mean that you’re supposed to wait around passively, hoping the thornbush will somehow catch fire, either through a lucky lightning strike or an act of random vandalism? Or should you, instead, take matters into your own hands— douse the thornbush with gasoline and throw a match into it? Here’s another pertinent query: Is the thornbush really so broad and hardy that it blocks the whole road?

If not, maybe you could just go around it.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):

The fictional character Scott Pilgrim is the hero of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s series of graphic novels. He becomes infatuated with a “ninja delivery girl” named Ramona Flowers, but there’s a complication. Before he can win her heart, he must defeat all seven of her evil ex-lovers. I’m sure your romantic history has compelled you to deal with equally challenging dilemmas, Gemini. But I suspect you’ll get a reprieve from that kind of dark melodrama in 2017. The coming months should be a bright and expansive chapter in your Book of Love.

CANCER (June 21-July 22):

The creature known as the short-eared elephant shrew is typically 4 inches long and weighs a little more than 1

ounce. And yet it’s more genetically similar to elephants than to true shrews. In its home habitat of southern Africa, it’s known as the sengi. I propose we regard it as one of your spirit animals in 2017. Its playful place in your life will symbolize the fact that you, too, will have secret connections to big, strong influences; you, too, will have natural links with powerhouses that outwardly don’t resemble you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):

“When I look back, I see my former selves, numerous as the trees,” writes Leo poet Chase Twichell. I’m sure that’s an experience you’ve had yourself. Do you find it comforting? Does it feel like being surrounded by old friends who cushion you with nurturing familiarity? Or is it oppressive and claustrophobic? Does it muffle your spontaneity and keep you tethered to the past? I think these are important questions for you to meditate on in 2017. It’s time to be very conscious and creative about shaping your relationships with all the people you used to be.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):

“’Life experience’ does not amount to very much and could be learned from novels alone ... without any help from life.”

So said Nobel Prize-winning author Elias Canetti, who was born in Bulgaria, had British citizenship and wrote in German. Although his idea contradicts conventional wisdom, I am presenting it for your consideration in 2017. You’re ready for a massive upgrade in your understanding about the nature of reality—and firsthand “life experience” alone won’t be enough to ensure that.

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HELP WANTED Digital Media Intern Jackson Free Press seeks a parttime digital media intern for content creation, SEO tasks, website editing and e-mail newsletter creation and support. This paid, hourly position is flexible and can be designed around classwork or other work for the right candidate. Write todd at jacksonfreepress dot com with your resume and your availability.

Part-Time Distribution Manager The Jackson Free Press seeks a part-time distribution manager to take ownership of the day-to-day distribution operations of the Jackson Free Press. Your role will be to work with the Lead Driver and contract drivers to ensure that the Jackson Free Press, BOOM Jackson and other contract publications are distributed on-time and efficiently. You’ll also interact with the public, business managers, and others to ensure that distribution locations are satisfied with our service and in order to secure new distribution locations and allocate resources effectively. Must be a good communicator and good presenter as the JFP’s main liaison to local distribution partners. Roughly 30 hours per week, about 2/3 is spent driving and distributing and 1/3 on route management and public interaction. Please send your resume and a cover letter or e-mail to todd@ jacksonfreepress.com.

Sales Account Executive Seeking Sales Account Executives for Jackson area to sell digital billboard Ads. Work from home office. Insurance.

Competitive Pay. Sales experience required. Email resumes careers@ busbycompanies.com 601-428-4014

TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD:

Post an ad, call 601-362-6121, ext. 11 or fax to 601-510-9019.

Deadline: Mondays at Noon.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):

I am rooting for you to be flagrantly unique in 2017. I vehemently want you to be uninhibited about expressing your deepest, rawest, hottest inclinations. In this spirit, I offer the following four rallying cries: 1. “Don’t be addicted to looking cool, baby!” —my friend Luther. 2. Creative power arises when you conquer your tendency to stay detached. —paraphrased from poet Marianne Moore. 3. If you want to be original, have the courage to be an amateur.

—paraphrased from poet Wallace Stevens. 4. “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind there are few.” —Zen teacher Shunryu Suzuki.

www.jfpsites.com Web and Mobile Marketing for Central Mississippi

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):

“There is a desperation for unknown things,” wrote poet Charles Wright, “a thirst for endlessness that snakes through our bones.” Every one of us has that desperation and thirst from time to time, but no one feels the pull toward perplexing enchantments and eternal riddles more often and more intensely than you Scorpios. And according to my astrological meditations on your life in 2017, you will experience this pull even more often and with greater intensity than ever before. Is that a problem? I don’t see why it should be. In fact, it could make you sexier and smarter than ever—especially if you regard it as a golden opportunity to become sexier and smarter than ever.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):

I hope you will seek out a wide range of intoxicating experiences in 2017. The omens predict it. Fate sanctifies it. I hope you will gracefully barrel your way through the daily whirl with a constant expectation of sly epiphanies, amusing ecstasies and practical miracles. There has rarely been a time in your life when you’ve had so much potential to heal old wounds through immersions in uncanny bliss. But please note: The best of these highs will NOT be induced by drugs or alcohol, but rather by natural means like sex, art, dancing, meditation, dreamwork, singing, yoga, lucid perceptions and vivid conversations.

Homework: Send me a list of your top five New Year’s resolutions. Go to RealAstrology.com and click on “Email Rob.”

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To learn more, visit www.jfpsites.com, call 601-362-6121 x17 or write todd@jacksonfreepress.com to learn how you can get started NOW on a customer-focused, affordable, revenue-generating, easy-to-update Web and Mobile website!

January 4 - 10 , 2017 • jfp.ms

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):

BULLE TIN BOARD: Classifieds As low as $25!

29

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PAID ADVERTISING SECTION. CALL 601-362-6121 X11 TO LIST YOUR BUSINESS

------------- H E A LT H C A R E / W E L L N E S S ---------------The Headache Center

Renaissance at Colony Park, Suite #7205, Ridgeland, (601)366-0855 Accurately diagnoses headache syndromes and tailors an individualized treatment plan for you that includes lifestyle modification and FDA-approved medical treatments.

-------------------- HOME SERVICES -------------------Solar Control

291 US-51 E4, Ridgeland, MS 39157 (601)707-5596 Mississippi’s only full-service 3M Authorized window film dealer.

Services include, residential, graffiti shield and automotive tinting.

Tri-county Tree Service

Jackson, (601)940-5499 Personalized and courteous services to valued customers in Madison, Hinds, Rankin or Jackson County. Contact us today for a FREE NO HASSLE ESTIMATE.

---------------------- AUTOMOTIVE ----------------------J & J Wholesale Service & Repair

3246 Hwy 80 W., Jackson, (601) 360-2444 Certified Technician, David Rucker, has 40+ years of experience.

Mr. Rucker specializes in a/c, front end, part replacement, brakes, select services and repairs. Appointments only.

-------------------- BANKS/FINANCIAL ------------------Members Exchange

107 Marketridge Dr. Ridgeland, 5640 I-55 South Frontage Rd. Byram 101 MetroPlex Blvd. Pearl, (601)922-3250 Members Exchange takes the bank out of banking. You will know right away that you are not just a customer, you are a member.

Guaranty Trust

2 Professional Parkway, Ste A Ridgeland, (601)307-5008 Your friendly source for mortgage advice and service in FHA, USDA, VA, Jumbo and conventional mortgages.

------------------- FOOD/DRINK/GIFTS ------------------Beckham Jewelry

4800 N Hwy 55 #35, Jackson, (601)665-4642 With over 20 years experience Beckham Jewelry, manufactures, repairs and services all types of jewelry. Many repairs can be done the same day! They also offer full-service watch and clock repair.

Fondren Cellars

633 Duling Ave, Jackson, (769)216-2323 Quality wines and spirits in a relaxed environment. Voted Best Wine and Liquor store by Jackson Free Press readers.

Nandy’s Candy

Maywood Mart, 1220 E Northside Dr #380, Jackson, (601)362-9553 Small batch confections do more than satisfy a sweet tooth, they foster fond traditions and strong relationships. Plus, enjoy sno-balls, gifts for any occasion and more!

McDade’s Wine

Maywood Mart, 1220 E Northside Dr #320, Jackson, (601)366-5676 McDade’s Wine and Spirits offers Northeast Jackson’s largest showroom of fine wine and spirits. Visit to learn about the latest offerings and get professional tips from the friendly staff!

Playtime Entertainment

1009 Hampstead Blvd, Clinton, (601)926-1511 Clinton’s newest high energy video gaming and sports grille destination.

-------------------- TOURISM/ARTS -----------------------

January 4 - 10, 2017 • jfp.ms

Mississippi Museum of Art

30

REAL PEOPLE REAL DESIRE REAL FUN.

380 South Lamar St. Jackson, (601) 960-1515 MMA strives to be a fountainhead attracting people from all walks to discuss the issues and glories of the past and present, while continuing to inspire progress in the future.

Ardenland

2906 North State St. Suite 207, Jackson, (601) 292-7121 Jackson’s premiere music promoter with concerts around the Metro including at Duling Hall in Fondren. www.ardenland.net

Natural Science Museum

2148 Riverside Dr, Jackson, (601) 576-6000 Stop by the museum and enjoy their 300-acre natural landscape, an open-air amphitheater, along with 2.5 miles of nature trails. Inside, meet over 200 living species in the 100,000 gallon aquarium network.

Mississippi Children's Museum

Try FREE: 800-513-9842

Ahora espaĂąol/18+

2145 Museum Boulevard, Jackson, (601) 981-5469 The Mississippi Children’s Museum provides unparalleled experiences that ignite a thirst for discovery, knowledge and learning in all children through hands-on and engaging exhibits and programs focusing on literacy, the arts, science, health and nutrition.

---------------- BEAUTY SHOP/SALON ------------------Barnette’s Highland Bluff

4400 Old Canton Rd, Jackson, (769) 230-4648 Barnette’s specializes in custom hair color as well as beautiful precision cuts.

1/5

SHIPS IN THE NIGHT W/ JAGUARDINI 9 P.M.

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GARY BURNSIDE BAND 10 P.M.

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LIGHTNIN MALCOLM W/

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MARK AND JAMIE Restaurant - Free!

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SHRIMP BOIL 5 - 10 PM

TUESDAY

1/10

$1 PBR & HIGHLIFE $2 MARGARITAS 10pm - 12am

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JACKSON INDIE MUSIC WEEK MARTIN’S LINEUP

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KING CAKE TODAY!

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1/13 - The Quickening 1/20 - A Live One (Exploring The Music of Phish) 1/21 - Flash Bang featuring Luzcid, Art & Music Showcase Vol. 1 1/22 - American Aquarium 1/27 - Honey Island Swamp Band 1/28 - New Madrid 2/3 - Universal Sigh 2/7 - The Funky Knuckles (Snarky Puppy’s Label) 2/9 - Lucero w/ special guest Esmé Patterson 2/10 - Andrew Duhon 2/17 - Wild Adriatic 2/18 - CBDB 4/6 - Papadosio (Pattern Integrities Spring Tour)

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970 High St, Jackson

214 S. STATE ST.

(601) 354-4665

www.chimneyville.com

DOWNTOWN JACKSON

601.354.9712

from memphis, tn this band stirs up a soulful, funky, rock n’ roll stew built on a foundation of the blues

THURSDAY 1/5 Restaurant Open as Usual _________________________

FRIDAY 1/6

1/9

OPEN MIC NIGHT

SOUTHERN AVENUE

_________________________

10 P.M.

MONDAY

Friday, January 6

SWING DE PARIS Restaurant - Free!

_________________________

SATURDAY 1/7

MARK “MULE MAN” MASSEY Restaurant - Free!

Saturday, January 21

COUNTRY SHOWDOWN america’s oldest and largest country music talent showcase

Saturday, January 28

ERIC LINDELL

combination of sweet, blue-eyed soul with foot-stomping R&B, swamp pop, funk and blues

Wednesday, February 1

DYLAN LEBLANC

_________________________

regarding his new album: “it’s a near flawless record, cohesive and self-assured.” - no depression

MONDAY 1/9

Tuesday, February 7

CENTRAL MS BLUES SOCIETY PRESENTS:

FRED EAGLESMITH

BLUE MONDAY

canadian alternative country singer-songwriter

Traveling Steam Show

Restaurant - 7 - 10pm

Tuesday, February 14

$3 Members $5 Non-Members

& His Fly-Rite Boys

_________________________

TUESDAY 1/10

PUB QUIZ

w/ Jimmy Quinn Restaurant - 7:30pm - $2 to Play

_________________________ OFFICIAL

HOUSE VODKA

Visit HalandMals.com for a full menu and concert schedule

601.948.0888 200 S. Commerce St. Downtown Jackson, MS

BIG SANDY

since forming in 1988, they have emerged as one of the world’s most respected practioners of american roots music

Sunday, February 19

ISAIAH RASHAD

new hybrid of new and old school hip hop and abstract soul

JX//RX COMPLETE SHOW LISTINGS & TICKETS

dulinghall.com

January 4 - 10, 2017 • jfp.ms

THURSDAY

31

We Provide the Band,You Bring The Blues Open to Amateurs and Professionals.

Made a Resolution to Drink Better Beer in 2017?

ÇÎäÊ >ÂŽiÂ?>˜`ĂŠ À°ÊUĂŠ >VÂŽĂƒÂœÂ˜]ĂŠ /iÂ?\ĂŠĂˆĂ¤ÂŁÂ‡ĂŽĂˆĂˆÂ‡ĂŽĂˆÂŁĂŽĂŠÂœĂ€ĂŠĂˆĂ¤ÂŁÂ‡ĂŽĂˆĂˆÂ‡ĂˆĂ¤ĂŽĂŽ Fax: 601-366-7122

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