Jackson Jambalaya

WLBT provided some more details about the recent escape of a murder suspect from the Raymond Detention Center.  C.J. LeMaster tweeted:

Jackson Urban Praetor Chokwe Antar Lumumba issued the following statement regarding Dr. Charles Hatcher's departure from his administration.

The Justice Department issued the following statement.

Here is how one person dealt with potholes when his city dragged it's ass in fixing the streets:

What is unusual about these pictures?

Found this funny clip from an old movie on Youtube.

It is taking a little bit longer to post comments.  Comment notifications were immediately emailed to me once submitted.  However, the new EU regulations went into effect last week and ever since Friday night, Google has stopped sending the notifications.  Thus I have to open up a browser, go into the dashboard, and review the comments. Hence why they have appeared in batches lately.  It's been a big problem for blog owners who use the Blogger program this week.  Hopefully, Google will soon fix the problem.   So bear with me.  Your comment will be approved or rejected, it will take just a little bit longer.  Thanks.

Judge Carleton Reeves assumed the role of Solomon in a fight over the assets of Lamar Adams.  The SEC and Secretary of State Gilbert Hosemann are fighting over the right to appoint a receiver in the Lamar Adams Ponzi scheme case. The SEC accused Adams of operating a Ponzi scheme that defrauded 150 investors out of more than $85 million since 2005, in a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court on April 20.   The SEC said Adams sold bogus timber rights and deeds guaranteeing 13% interest rates.  Mr. Adams pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of wire fraud.  The Justice Department said in that case Adams defrauded 250 investors of more than $100 million.

Update: Captured.

Arm yourselves if you live within a short distance of the Raymond Detention Center.  A murder suspect escaped last night.  WLBT reported:

With Mississippi’s two 2018 U.S. Senate races predicated on brawling attacks, counter-attacks and philosophical contrasts in party primaries and in the special election, one might expect a similar Pier 6 political donnybrook in Mississippi’s Third Congressional District race to succeed the retiring Republican U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper of Pearl.

The Brandon Police Department posted the following alert on Facebook.

This post is a paid advertisement.

It seems Mr. Marcus Wallace, the owner of M.A.C. Construction took umbrage at a post Friday that pointed out his only contractor's license was for remodeling.   The question of M.A.C.'s qualifications came up last week as Mr. Wallace and Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba went toe to toe at the Jackson City Council meeting.  Well, JJ certainly wants to give equal time to Mr. Wallace and will take the liberty of posting his FB statement below, including a picture he posted of his certificates.

Participatory budgeting is apparently coming to Jackson, courtesy of the People's Assembly.  Othor Cain mentioned it on his Facebook page last week.  Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba's sister, Rukia, explained what would take place in a reply to Mr. Cain:

What's going on in Canton?  The School Board fired the Superintendent but she is apparently not going down without a fight.  WLBT reported Friday:

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.

The funeral for a young woman who left this world too soon yet touched many lives, was held this weekend. However, thanks to the internet, Frances Fortner will never completely be gone, as she left behind a small but soulful legacy on video.  WLBT posted clips from her Youtube channel as they covered the funeral.  Some of the videos are posted below so her talent is honored, and not forgotten.

Update: The suspect turned himself in to Ridgeland police. 

The Ridgeland Police Department issued the following statement and picture.

Today is Memorial Day when we honor those who fell in The Great War.  Remembering those who died serving our country is the theme across America today.  However, JJ is going to publish something different in tone but remembering those who served.  I first came across this essay in college and its one of those that  stayed in my mind ever since.  The author respects the vets but then says what he really thinks about society.  Many veterans share his opinion and one can hardly blame them.

A sinkhole continues to grow at the end of Lelia Drive in Jackson.

If you can't make it to church this morning, enjoy this 1989 sermon from the late Dr. Frank Pollard of First Baptist Church (Jackson).   He made his opposition to gambling quite known in this sermon.  Enjoy.

Emerging initiative "Empower Mississippi" is right that many children do not "flourish" in Mississippi public schools. But the fix it wants is wrong. Just as the fix proposed by the "Better Schools, Better Jobs" initiative was wrong.

Nominated for Dad of the Year.  Kid acts up in Walmart? No problem......

 Oren Crass of the Manhatten Institute urges schools to reshape schools so that vo-tech education is a serious part of the curriculum.  He recently opined in the Wall Street Journal:

Nobody knows what a community college is,” President Trump said last month in Michigan. “We’re going to start using—and we had this—vocational schools.” Conflating community colleges with vocational schools is a mistake, though an understandable one. Everyone talks about better vocational programs for students who will not complete college, but prescriptions invariably focus on options for after high-school graduation.

Waiting until students are college age is too late. Elevating vocational education, and prioritizing its students, must begin with a substantial reshaping of American high schools. Vocational education will not succeed so long as culture and public policy consign it to second-class status—a dumping ground for students who interfere with what school districts consider their real mission, college prep.

What do people think about the Jackson Zoo? Tis the question asked by WAPT last week in this video posted below.

Not.Going.To.Say.A.Word.

M.A.C. Construction owner Marcus Wallace sparred with Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba over whether M.A.C. was "certified" to do road work at the Tuesday night  meeting of the City Council. The Mayor flat out said that Mr. Wallace wasn't getting contracts because his company was not "certified."  Mr. Wallace hotly disputed the Mayor's statement.  He said "None of those things are true.... Marcus Wallace and M.A.C. and Associates, I'm very certified. I would bring a certificate to the Council next week."   Such a disagreement should be easy to resolve  since licenses can be verified at the website of the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. 

Good ole boys are alive and well on Saturday Night Live in this 2016 bit of pointed social commentary. 

JPD issued the following statement.

Update (5/25/18): This case was dismissed without prejudice yesterday by Mr. Gray a few hours after this post was published. 

A lawsuit in Madison County Circuit Court claims Adara Networks, Inc., defaulted on a $1.5 million loan from Robert "Bobby" Gray.  Adara Networks is a California information technology company.   Mr. Gray sued Adara on March 8 to collect the alleged debt and accumulated interest.

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba put M.A.C. owner Marcus Wallace in his place Tuesday night.  Mr. Wallace simultaneously be-clowned himself and made an ass out of himself during the public comments period.  Watch the video posted below.

Miss Chic-Fil-A on Sundays?  There is hope. 

Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney issued the following statement. 

William McHenry sued Lamar Adams for $10 million on May 16 in Madison County Circuit Court. Adams pleaded guilty last week in federal court to one count of wire fraud as he admitted to defrauding 250 investors out of more than $100 million by selling them phony timber investments. A victim sued Adams and McHenry earlier this month. McHenry answered the lawsuit and included a cross-claim against Adams in the response.

Several prominent Mississippi plaintiff's attorneys are engaged in a scrum over millions of dollars of their money invested in a California technology company.   Attorney Shane Langston sued Adara Networks, Inc., Eric Johnson and James Scott in Hinds County Chancery Court on May 10, for an accounting of all Adara Networks, Inc. corporate funds.   Mr. Langston claims Adara solicited and sold shares to Mississippi attorneys for nearly twenty years.  However, money was apparently invested without first checking the books.

Pelahatchie Mayor Ryshonda Beechem issued the following statement. 

The way to solve Mississippi’s problem with the struggling condition of its bridges is to adapt the state’s tax code to changing times.

The Justice Department issued the following statement.

"I feel that it is my responsibility as Mayor of this city to be honest to the Fortner family, and to be honest to the citizens of Jackson and acknowledge that the city of Jackson failed to appropriately secure the site at the time we learned that that manhole cover was properly in place.  We owe that responsibility to the Fortner family" said an earnest Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba as he opened his weekly press conference today.  The Jackson Mayor again offered his condolences to the Fortner family who lost their only daughter in a one-car accident on Ridgewood Road Thursday.   Franny Fortner was driving to graduation practice when her Mazda MX-3 convertible struck a manhole and flipped over. 

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.

State Auditor Stacey Pickering issued the following statement.

Posted below is a copy of an agreement issued to investors in the Mississippi timber ponzi scheme that was recently busted by the feds.   Lamar Adams conned 250 investors out of more than $100 million by selling bogus timber investments to them.  Adams used several promoters to sell the fraud, including Brent Alexander and Jon Seawright.  Adams recently pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and faces up to twenty years in prison.

LSU Heisman Trophy winner Billy Cannon passed away in his sleep today.  He will always be remembered for the "Halloween Run" against Ole Miss in 1958 and the goal line stand that preserved the victory at the end of the game.  He would be a beast in today's game.

The Louisiana Legislature is the gift that keeps on giving to Mississippi.  New Orleans is probably the best city for casinos in America.  That is "casino" with an "s" - the plural form of the word.  However, Edwin Edwards and his cronies couldn't help themselves but sold, yes sold, a casino monopoly in New Orleans to Harrah's. The monopoly doesn't expire for six more years but that is just a mere technicality.  The Morning Advocate reported Tuesday:

The late Dr. Frank Pollard (First Baptist Church, Jackson) preached from Ephesians 2:1-10 in today's Sunday morning sermon.  Enjoy.

Not gonna run in 2019 season is upon us.

Bear meets hunter.......

A Northeast Jackson woman's car was damaged by the same manhole that killed Frannie Fortner just a few hours later on Thursday.  The woman told JJ that contact with the uncovered manhole blew out her two right side tires.  She made this comment on JJ Thursday night:

Here is another open manhole.  This one is probably just 50-100 yards away from St. Andrews Episcopal School on Old Canton Road.  No bondo was used this time as the manhole was just left wide open.  You can't make this up. 

A manhole on South Street has been uncovered for over a year. It is currently marked by an orange barrel while another barrel has been stuffed upside down into the manhole.   The only thing missing is bondo. Think I'm exaggerating?   See for yourself.

 A senior at Jackson Academy was killed after her car flipped when it struck an open manhole on in a northbound lane on Ridgewood Road near Venetian Way.  The convertible flipped over and landed upside down.  Frances Fortner would have graduated tomorrow.

or saying goodbye to spring.  This old video of an azalea tour in West Jackson popped up on Youtube.  Enjoy.

Not so fast, my friend, said the SEC to the Mississippi Secretary of State yesterday.   The SEC and Secretary of State Eggbert Hosemann are fighting over the right to appoint a receiver in the Lamar Adams Ponzi scheme case. The SEC accused Adams of operating a Ponzi scheme that defrauded 150 investors out of more than $85 million since 2005, in a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court on April 20.   The SEC said Adams sold bogus timber rights and deeds guaranteeing 13% interest rates.  Mr. Adams pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court last week to one count of wire fraud.  The Justice Department said in that case Adams defrauded 250 investors of more than $100 million.

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following statement.

What do we owe? Who knows? Such is the question that occurred last week in Pelahatchie.

Mississippians have been talking about a state lottery for more than 25 years and still don’t have one – a decision that studies and industry estimates claim keeps between $100 million to $150 million out of the state’s general fund revenues and continues to send state taxpayers across state lines to buy lottery tickets in Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Florida.

Check out this story in the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate today:

Update (9:50 AM): Chief Moore said he placed the officer on administrative leave pending an investigation.  The video of press conference is posted below.


JPD Chief Anthony Moore will hold a press conference at 9:30 to discuss allegations that a JPD officer beat a suspect while handcuffed.   WAPT will stream the presser on Facebook Live while WLBT will broadcast it on its website.  WAPT reported the story last night.  The suspect's father, John Knight, posted this message and these pictures on Facebook last night:

Jackson community activist Enoch Sanders had a few things to say about crime at City Hall last week.

Attorney General Jim Hood issued the following statement. 

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.

The article written by Jana Hoops posted below appeared in the Clarion-Ledger Friday.

The Securities and Exchange Commission asked U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves to appoint a temporary receiver for Lamar Adams and his company Madison Timber Properties.  The SEC accused the two defendants of operating a Ponzi scheme that defrauded 150 investors out of more than $85 million since 2005 in a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court on April 20.   The SEC said Adams sold bogus timber rights and deeds that guaranteed 13% interest rates.  The defendants have not responded to the complaint.

The Mississippi Institute for Justice issued the following statement.

The Rez Patrol pulled a car out of the water this afternoon over by the Breakers' jeti.

Enjoy today's sermon.  The late Dr. Frank Pollard honored mothers in this 1993 Mother's Day sermon. He must have known everyone wanted to take Mama to lunch because it was only 16 minutes. ;-) ;-)

Hallie Heiter is a song writer from Clinton, MS.  She recently had one of her songs chosen by the Nashville Songwriter's Association to be featured in their Top 40 competition.  She is competing against thirty nine other new artists from across the US and Internationally, and is currently ranked 2nd in the contest.  Her song, titled "Mississippi" is a traditional country/bluegrass tune about some of the things she likes the most about the Magnolia State.  Share post and vote for Hallie.  Link to contest. , Link to Hallie's page.

City-slicking French family in the middle of the bush.  What could possibly go wrong?

 Update: WLBT obtained and posted video of the shootout between a JPD officer and two suspects at a gas station on Cooper Road early Wednesday morning.  The video is posted below.  Remember, the suspects' family questioned the police and dropped some thinly-veiled hints that their family member was murdered. 

The first lawsuit against Lamar Adams and his Timber Trolls fell this week in Madison County Circuit Court.  Highway 22, LLC sued Lamar Adams, William McHenry, Madison Timber Properties, and a several John Does for fraud suffered in a Ponzi scheme created by Lamar Adams.  Adams pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to one count of wire fraud and admitted he operated a ponzi scheme that defrauded 250 investors out of more than $100 million.

Example: Arrested for murder last September, still not indicted.  No problem here.

Bill Maher meets Predator meets Amy Schumer  meets SJW's.  Enjoy.

Lord Snow issued the following statement on its website.

Lord Protector Jim Hood issued the following statement. 

Jackson Ward 3 City Councilman Kenneth Stokes said that the Jackson Zoo hardly has any animals.  WLBT investigated and found that surprise, there are indeed quite a few animals at the Jackson Zoo:

JPD issued the following statements yesterday:

Lamar Adams pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud today in U.S. District Court.  The Justice Department issued the statement that is posted below.

JJ and WLBT commissioned local artist Bill Wilson to create courtroom sketches of the hearing.  The sketches are posted below.  The pictures can not be used without permission from Jackson Jambalaya or WLBT.

The Madison County School District issued the following statement. 

Confused about the 2018 elections in Mississippi? You likely aren’t alone.

This email that was sent to Madison Central High School parents speaks for itself.

A proposed swanky Oxford development may be caught up in the middle of the timber Ponzi scheme.  The discovery that Lamar Adams - a man with no more than a high school education - bilked hundreds of investors out of more than $100 million with a Ponzi scheme that sold bogus timber investments rocked Mississippi last week.

Local rapper and JSU student "Lil" Lonnie Taylor was shot to death while driving last week. However, the violence didn't end at his death but continued Friday night as gunfire erupted at his memorial. The 23 year-old man's murder shocked many as he was well-known in the Jackson community and his videos received millions of views on Youtube.  However,  his criminal history provides a glimpse into the world to which the deceased belonged. 

The Fat Man can get lost.  GRRM posted this message on his blog:

The Community Foundation of Greater Jackson stated in an email to this website that a $2.3 million timber "investment" on its 2015 990 was a donation of an interest in timberland in Alabama. The email states:

JPD issued the following statements. 

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey posted this audio and accompanying message on Facebook.

It's time for Matchbook Monday.  Some true 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.

A local charity, the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson, stated a rather curious investment on its tax return two years ago.  Curious because it involves timber rights - the same "investment" that was used to con 250 investors out of over $100 million. 

The Mississippi Boys Choir will perform at a fund-raiser for the Mississippi School of the Arts on May 19 at the Mississippi School for the Arts in Brookhaven.  See flyer below for more information. 

JPD issued the following statement. 

The late Dr. Frank Pollard preached on "the road less traveled" in this 1990 edition of today's Sunday Morning Sermon.

Good leaders plan ahead.

You find versions of this truism in most leadership bestsellers. In particular, Stephen Covey's "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" says "begin with the end in mind;" Legendary coach John Wooden's "Wooden on Leadership" says "You must be interested in finding the best way, not in having your own way;” and Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" says, "Now, the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought."

JJ came across this matchbook while collecting some for Matchbook Monday.   Talk about irony.

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba made an impromptu visit to WAPT after a shooting occurred at Lonny "Lil Lonnie" Taylor's memorial Friday night.

The Securities and Exchange Commission said in court records that Lamar Adams began his Ponzi scheme in 2004.  The SEC filed a civil complaint against Adams and his company, Madison Timber Properties, LLC in U.S. District Court on April 20.  The complaint was unsealed on May 2.

It's been the big topic this week on JJ, so why not?

The names of a lawyer and lobbyist at powerhouse law firm Baker Donelson have popped up as possible promoters in the Lamar Adams Ponzi scheme. 

JPD issued the following statement and mug shot.  

Look what is coming to Tinseltown & Malco in June.

Lamar Adams will plead guilty next week in U.S. District Court to one count of wire fraud.  A court filing today stated:

We could use some good news.  The District at Eastover issued the following statement: 

Madison-Rankin District Attorney Michael Guest issued the following statement.

Let the scurrying begin.  Pinnacle Trust sent this statement about Lamar Adams to its clients earlier this week.

JPD issued the following statement.

State Representative Jay Hughes (D-The Grove) issued the following statement. 

UMMC and Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney issued the following statements.

This old Clarion-Ledger story shows how Lamar Adams used the money of those he conned.

Hinds County Court Judge Bill Skinner issued the following statement.

State Representative Mark Baker (R-Ampitheatre) issued the following statement.

Posted below is the audio recording of the initial appearance of Arthur Lamar Adams in U.S. District Court yesterday.  Turned off comments as this post is somewhat ancillary to the other two posts about this subject.  Just comment on those threads.  Thanks.

About 333 years before the birth of Christ, historians believe Alexander the Great marched his troops into the Phrygian capital of Gordium in what is today known as Turkey.  As the legend goes, Alexander soon encountered an ancient wagon with its yoke tied intractably by several ropes in multiple knots tied in such an entangled fashion that it appeared impossible to loosen them.

 Update: Magistrate Linda Anderson set bond at $25,000 for Adams and placed him under house arrest once the bond is posted. Adams waived indictment. 

U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst issued the following statement.

A massive Ponzi scheme promising double-digit returns from timber investments has been uncovered in Mississippi.  Several sources have told JJ that federal law enforcement is investigating the scheme.