Jackson Jambalaya

Some parents take things waaaaaaaaaaay too seriously.

Video of the short but emotional hearing is posted below. 

So said Hinds County Circuit Judge Jeff Weill as he sentenced  Loran Blackwell to spend the rest of her life behind bars for participating in the murder of 81 year-old Lee Kendrick in 2015.  Judge Weill told the self-admitted prostitute "You, Loran Danielle Shell-Blackwell, are devoid of conscience."  A jury convicted her last week of capital murder. 

The Board of the Jackson Zoological Society held its first public meeting yesterday.   WJTV reported:

The Brandon Police Department issued the following statement.

For voters, the June 26 primary runoff elections are unfortunately looking like low turnout, low interest affairs that don’t promise much to voters in terms of the opportunity to substantially change their ballot choices in the Nov. 6 general election.

Don't move......

So how many times has this water line on Kings Highway been repaired?

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba said at his weekly press conference yesterday that local non-profit company One Voice will lead a campaign to drum up public support for the JPS bond referendum.  The $65 million bond referendum is scheduled to take place on August 7.  Mayor Lumumba said it was "an opportunity to raise money without taxes going up." 

Mississippi real estate investor Ivan Spinner became the sixth real estate investor to plead guilty in connection with the ongoing investigation into bid rigging at public real estate foreclosure auctions in Mississippi, the Department of Justice announced.

Full disclosure- I did not vote for Donald Trump in the primary. I wasn’t overly enthusiastic about voting for him in the general election either. At that point, I was not 100% certain that he was the president I wanted, but I voted for him anyway.

On June 8th, Robert McElvaine wrote a piece for the Clarion Ledger titled, “Is this the president you want?” and asked readers to put aside party affiliation and who you voted for in 2016 while he lists his negative opinions about the man; implying Trump supporters were too stupid or too mesmerized by Trump to think about such things clearly.

It's time for Matchbook Monday.  Some real Jackson history is posted below.  Feel free to add your stories or any information about them in the comments section as you enjoy these blasts from the past. Readers can email copies of any old matchbooks to kingfish1935@gmail.com.

Governor Phil Bryant issued the following statement. 

Jackson voters will decide on August 7 whether to approve a $65 million bond issue for the Jackson Public School District.  The Jackson City Council approved placing the referendum on the ballot on August 11.  The vote was unanimous.

Loren Shell Blackwell screamed at prosecutors as Judge Weill pronounced her guilty of capital murder in the death of 81 year-old Lee Kendrick.   WAPT posted exclusive video of the scene on its website.

If you can't make it to church this morning,  enjoy this beautiful Father's Day Sermon presented by the late Dr. Frank Pollard of First Baptist Church (Jackson) in 1997.

Trump tariffs and retaliatory tariffs are no big deal for Mississippi say key Republican leaders. "Everything will work out," is their mantra.

Nothing like remastered Led Zeppelin live on a Saturday night. Enjoy.

Local social media influencer Othor Cain urged Jacksonians to support the $65 million school bond referendum scheduled to take place in August. Mr. Cain wrote on Facebook yesterday:

Rednecks gonna redneck.  This 2017 video has it all.

The accused killer of 6 year-old Kingston Frazier is in prison.  Byron McBride, Jr.  was convicted in Holmes County of non-residential burglary.  His sentence is two years.  

Rankin County Circuit Judge John Emfinger denied a convicted baby-killer's petition to restore his gun rights last month.

The trials of David Landrum continue after a Chancellor said he committed some fraud while trying to move progress along in one of his developments in Madison County.

Much has been made about the deteriorating area around the Jackson Zoo.  WLBT took a deeper dive into the mess and started naming the landowners:

Update: WE GOT A TAPE!!!

 


Attorney Bridgette Morgan claims she was fired from her Hinds County Public Defender position because she qualified to run against Hinds County Court Judge Melvin Priester, Sr.  Ms. Morgan made the allegation in lawsuit that was filed today in U.S. District Court.   The defendants are Hinds County and  Chief Public Defender Michelle Purvis Harris.

Attorney Warren Martin issued the following statement. 

The "Million Dollar Bonds" should be the nickname for the proposed issue of JPS bonds for $65 million since the proposed professional service fees will be $1.1 million.  Rankin County's bond fees for a $100 million sale was slightly over $300,000.  The notorious Siemens deal only had fees of $640,000 even though the bond issue was $90 million.  However, JPS bonds must be really special because everyone is getting paaaiiiiiid on this deal.  JJ obtained a schedule of the fees through a public records request.  Read them and weep.

The Executive Director of the West Rankin Utility Authority recommended building a wastewater treatment plant Monday.  West Rankin uses the City of Jackson's Savanna wastewater treatment plant.

Pelahatchie Mayor Ryshonda Beechem blasted the Board of Aldermen and a city employee in a Facebook live video posted Monday afternoon.  She posted the video in response to a Board meeting held that night that was not called until that same afternoon.  The Mayor did not attend the meeting. The video is posted below.

JPD issued the following statement. 

Just remember, it's always worse somewhere else.

Both here in Mississippi and nationally, congressional candidates are making no mention of the serious challenges faced by the present iterations of the Social Security and Medicare programs. Baby Boomers poised to collect the entitlements are decidedly not ignoring the issues, but are nervously reading disturbing warnings that fiscal danger looms.

Posted below is a list of projects to be funded by a proposed $65 million bond issue for JPS.  The list was obtained through a public records request.  The total cost for the projects posted below is $30.5 million.  The remainder of the bond proceeds will be used for new construction. 

Highlights: 
-State Auditor calls out Former Mayor
-City Attorney suddenly quits
-City Attorney accuses Mayor of ignoring bid laws

Former Pelahatchie Mayor Knox Ross complained he is a victim of persecution by the State Auditor.  State Auditor Stacey Pickering demanded that Mr. Ross and the Aldermen who served from 2014 to 2017 repay $421,688 in drug seizure funds that were illegally spent.  Mr. Ross told the Clarion-Ledger two weeks ago:

"We are not focused on saving money."  So said Jackson Public School Board President Dr. Jeanne Hairston yesterday at a press conference at Jackson City Hall.  The Lumumba Administration held a press conference to announce a $65 million bond referendum for JPS that will be held on August 8. 

The Madison Police Department issued the following statement and pictures.

Both here in Mississippi and nationally, congressional candidates are making no mention of the serious challenges faced by the present iterations of the Social Security and Medicare programs. Baby Boomers poised to collect the entitlements are decidedly not ignoring the issues, but are nervously reading disturbing warnings that fiscal danger looms.

Some of the Pelahatchie Solons went into damage control at a secret press conference at Penn's Fish House in Brandon on May 30.   The Jackson Free Press reported

It's time for Matchbook Monday.  Some real gems of Jackson's past are posted below.  Feel free to add your stories or any information about them in the comments section as you enjoy these blasts from the past. Readers can email copies of any old matchbooks to kingfish1935@gmail.com.

It's time for the annual fund-raising drive for Jackson Jambalaya.

Thank you very much for your support of Jackson Jambalaya and reading the blog over the years. We've come a long way since we started up in 2007.  This blog couldn't have gotten as far as it has without support from the readers.  You've donated money, provided tips, and helped provide information when it was needed.  JJ is asking for your help again this year.

Brian Clark is appealing his sentence for aggravated domestic violence. Clark is serving a 10-year prison sentence for aggravated assault domestic violence.  His family owns Clark Oil & Gas and his uncle is the CEO of Butler Snow.   Such a pedigree didn't stop him from beating his wife to a bloody pulp in 2013.

A Hinds County Public Defender advocate abolishing the police.  Mr. Adofo Minka, Esquire  wrote in the Black Agenda Report:

If you can't make it to church today, enjoy this sermon presented by the late Dr. Frank Pollard of First Baptist Church (Jackson).  

Low turnout Democratic and Republican primaries last week yielded two surprises. Political novice Howard Sherman was the surprise leader in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. Described by the Clarion-Ledger as the "Los Angeles-native venture capitalist and husband of Emmy Award-winning actress Sela Ward of Meridian," Sherman will face Mississippi native Baria of Bay St. Louis in the June 26th run-off.

The Crescent of the Crescent City became one with the stars.  Ella Brennan died last week.  The 92 year-old matriarch of the Brennan family founded Brennan's and Commander's Palace while launching the careers of Emeril and Paul Prudhomme.  She left behind a trail that was followed by many but blazed by few.

Bill Maher offered up some advice for Democrats in this 2017 video that's pretty funny.

JJ and other media outlets reported that a woman's SUV flipped after it struck a pile of gravel on Lynch Street. 

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba is hosting a golf tournament tomorrow to raise money for Jackson's junior youth golf program .  The flyer is posted below.