MPA/MPS Press Releases

Release: Immediate
Contact: Barbara Dorr 1-800-545-3764
Former First Lady Fordice to be Honored
JACKSON, Mississippi, March 11, 2010-Keep Mississippi Beautiful and the Mississippi Department of
Transportation will honor the late Pat Fordice, former First Lady, State of Mississippi at the “Majesty of
Mississippi” dinner on Thursday evening, March 25, 2010 at the Jackson Convention Complex, 105 East
Pascagoula Street. The dinner will begin at 7:00 p.m. and is black tie optional. The Mistress of Ceremonies will
be Mrs. Mike Huckabee, former First Lady of Arkansas and close friend of Mrs. Fordice. The evening will also
feature a video tribute by Mississippi native and country music recording artist Marty Stuart, who was also a
close friend of the former First Lady.
Mrs. Fordice began working closely with Keep Mississippi Beautiful in 1995 during the preparation for the first
international exhibit The Palaces of St. Petersburg, presented by The Mississippi Commission for International
Cultural Exchange. She spearheaded a city-wide effort to clean-up and beautify the City of Jackson in
preparation for the exhibit with the theme “Company’s Coming”.
She won the most prestigious award given each year by Keep America Beautiful to an outstanding woman in
America—The Lady Bird Johnson Award. Mrs. Fordice became the icon for Keep Mississippi Beautiful much
like the crying Indian was for Keep America Beautiful in the 1970s. The “I’m Not Your Mama” campaign
sponsored by the Mississippi Department of Transportation featuring Mrs. Fordice became one the most popular
PSAs and received national recognition.
“We are thrilled to honor the memory of a woman who served as an inspiration for beautification efforts
throughout the state of Mississippi and has become an icon for raising the standard for personal responsibility
and commitment to improving the quality of life for all citizens of Mississippi,” said Stephanie Hutchins,
Chairwoman of the Majesty of Mississippi Tribute.
In addition to MDOT and Keep Mississippi Beautiful, event sponsors include The Beverage Association of
Mississippi; Brown Bottling Group; Mississippi Power Company; Entergy; Austin Medical Consultants; Blue
Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi; Godwin Group; The Mississippi Municipal League; Southwest Distributors;
Regions Bank and Tanner Construction.
The primary goals of the Keep Mississippi Beautiful program are to encourage communities in Mississippi to
become part of the Keep America Beautiful System, assist communities in establishing litter prevention and
education programs, serve as a clearinghouse of information on ideas and projects, and to coordinate an awards
program annually. The relationship between MDOT and Keep Mississippi Beautiful has been recognized as one
of the strongest partnerships of its kind in the nation by Keep America Beautiful.
For ticket information to the “Majesty of Mississippi” dinner, please call 1-800-545-3764 or email
b_dorr@bellsouth.net
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For Immediate Release For more information, please contact Ken Malone
March 10, 2010 at ken.malone@ablitech.com or (601) 466-7050

Media Release

Hattiesburg’s Ablitech, Grows into the Garden

Ablitech, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Ken Malone announced today that Ablitech has moved its laboratories and offices into the The Garden.

“Our early success in developing VersadelTM, a potential cure for cancer, created a need for work space for a dozen researchers” said Lisa Kemp, Ablitech’s Chief Science Officer. “We’re pleased to have found that space in The Garden.”

The Garden is a building developed by the University of Southern Mississippi designed to attract and retain research intensive companies to Hattiesburg. Ablitech now operates from a multi-tenant wet laboratory located in The Garden.

“We’re pleased that the University of Southern Mississippi foresaw the needs of companies like ours”, said Ken Malone, Ablitech’s CEO. “Without that vision, we would have been hard pressed to stay in Hattiesburg.”

About Ablitech

Ablitech, founded in 2006, is a Hattiesburg, Mississippi-based company that draws from the latest advances in polymer science and medicinal chemistry. Ablitech develops radical technologies for healing the human body. Ablitech’s flagship product line, VersadelTM, is a technology that enables gene therapies for the treatment of all forms of cancer and other life threatening diseases.

For Immediate Release Contact: Scot Slay
March 8, 2010 Office: (601) 944-4175
E-mail: sslay@ecd.org
ECD/HOPE CEO Gives Congressional Testimony on
Economic Development in Underserved Communities
Describes Important Role of CDFIs in Creating Growth
WASHINGTON, DC – Bill Bynum, Chief Executive Officer of ECD/HOPE (Enterprise
Corporation of the Delta/Hope Community Credit Union), will participate in a Congressional
hearing held by the House of Representatives’ Committee on Financial Services on Tuesday,
March 9 at 2:00 p.m. (EST). Bynum will join six other CDFI representatives and government
officials to provide testimony during the session entitled “Community Development Financial
Institutions: Their Unique Role and Challenges Serving Lower-Income, Underserved, and
Minority Communities.”
“CDFIs like ECD/HOPE have been a driving force for economic and community development in
the nation’s most economically distressed areas,” said Bynum. “Our experience means that we
have answers to making community development organizations an even stronger part of the
country’s economic engine. We welcome the opportunity to work with members of Congress in
finding solutions that will benefit businesses and communities in the areas hit hardest by the
economic crisis.”
Since its inception in 1994, ECD/HOPE’s efforts to assist entrepreneurs, homebuyers and
community development have resulted in more than $1 billion in financing benefiting over
70,000 individuals in the Delta, Katrina-affected areas and other distressed communities
throughout the Mid South. ECD/HOPE has full-service credit union branches and commercial
loan offices in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
Bynum’s testimony will address the critical roles that CDFIs and the CDFI Fund play with regard
to highly distressed people and places, and recommendations for increasing the impact of
CDFIs in the nation’s economic recovery. During his remarks, Bynum will provide specific
examples of how ECD/HOPE’s work has resulted in financing for entrepreneurs, homebuyers,
and community development projects.
Recommendations offered by Bynum will include prioritizing funding for CDFIs in highly
distressed markets, granting CDFIs access to the same resources as traditional financial
institutions, and encouraging increased collaboration with other agencies to support and fund
CDFIs.
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About ECD/HOPE
ECD/HOPE (Enterprise Corporation of the Delta/Hope Community Credit Union) is a regional
financial institution, intermediary and policy center dedicated to strengthening communities,
building assets and improving lives in economically distressed areas in Arkansas, Louisiana,
Mississippi and Tennessee. ECD/HOPE provides affordable financial products and related
services; leverages private, public and philanthropic resources; and engages in policy analysis
for the purpose of addressing development hurdles facing low-wealth people and communities.

For Immediate Release Contact: Laura Vinton
February 26, 2010 Phone: (228) 563-6583
Email: lvinton@ecd.org
Assistance Available to Mississippi Gulf Coast Homeowners Facing Foreclosure
ECD Offers Free Foreclosure Prevention Workshops
Gulfport, MS – Foreclosure rates for residents along the Gulf Coast have risen dramatically.
ECD (Enterprise Corporation of the Delta) urges homeowners at risk of losing their homes to
take the first step to avoid the foreclosure process: call for help.
ECD established counseling service in the region four years ago that have helped people to
rebuild and to protect their most important asset. To address the growing foreclosure problem,
ECD will be hosting two free workshops that open to the public. Anyone who is concerned
about their risk of foreclosure, behind or their mortgage, or simply worried about the
complexities and financial burden of homeownership is encouraged to attend these events on
March 6, 2010.
The program will include general information about foreclosure issues, an overview of
foreclosure prevention services, and will offer attendees an opportunity to schedule
appointments with certified foreclosure prevention specialists free of charge.
• ECD Gulfport Office, 4320 W. Railroad Street, Gulfport, MS 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Pascagoula Public Library, 3214 Pascagoula St., Pascagoula, MS 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
“We want everyone to build homeownership on a rock-solid foundation and to be able to keep
their homes for the long term,” said Laura Vinton, ECD Senior Vice President. “It can be difficult
to face the threat of foreclosure, but the earlier financially distressed homeowners reach out for
assistance, the more options they have to address their mortgage issues and potentially avoid
foreclosure.”
Industry studies show the foreclosure rate on mortgage loans has increased nationwide by more
than 50 percent since 2000, and the number of foreclosure filings has increased over 700% on
the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 2009.
While property values steadily increased and interest rates remained near historic lows over the
past few years, many people rushed into homeownership after being taken advantage of by
predatory and sub-prime lenders offering inappropriate loan products. Many of these loans
were responsible for getting people into homes with short-term benefits, but saddled borrowers
with significantly increased monthly payments as interest rates skyrocketed. Additionally, many
Mississippi Coast families face additional burdens related to the after effects of the 2005 storms
as well as the current economic crisis, such as the loss of a job, a reduction in income, or a
health emergency.
While there is no one reason that can explain why homeowners are facing foreclosure at an
increasing rate, the surest way out is to ask for help.
Unfortunately more than half of homeowners facing foreclosure do not seek assistance when
they begin to fall behind on their payments, according to industry studies. However, the early
stages of delinquency are the most crucial – the same studies show that homeowners who take
action when they are only one or two payments behind are more likely to keep their homes than
those who have fallen further behind on their payment schedule.
Homeowners who are having trouble making their mortgage payments are encouraged to
contact ECD at 228-563-6581 to receive foreclosure counseling from counseling agencies
certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), like ECD or other
members of the national NeighborWorks® network.
Many borrowers may be hesitant to call their lending institution because of embarrassment,
fear, or lack of trust, or lack of knowledge about the process. Working with a certified ECD
counselor may help alleviate this anxiety because they can serve as mediator between the
borrower and lender.
With the help of a counselor, a homeowner can work with his or her lender to develop a
reasonable action plan that will offer relief to the borrower. Lenders are often willing to work
with a borrower to put a family back on a stable financial footing.
Because it provides homeownership education and counseling, ECD can deploy a range of
services to help at-risk homeowners, including one-on-one counseling, bridge loans to help
borrowers falling behind in payments catch up, options for refinancing mortgages, and rehab
loans for repairs and maintenance.

What If…

Mississippi Senate Bill 2623 (SB2623), which creates a felony statute for the malicious and aggravated torture or abuse of dogs and cats, passed in the Mississippi Senate by an overwhelming majority and is now before the House Agriculture and Judiciary B Committees.  This bill is a moderate but effective resolution to an issue that has been debated in the Mississippi Legislature for over a decade.  It contains well-written exemptions for legitimate and incidental acts, while addressing clearly unjustifiable, deliberate and malicious acts of cruelty. This bill has the full support of the Mississippi Psychiatric Association, the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers’ Association and the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police, along with others who understand and are concerned about the relationship between abuse of animals and abuse of vulnerable adults and children.  This legislation will provide the law enforcement community with a tool to identify emerging violent offenders.  In addition to the felony statute, the bill provides the opportunity for the court to order psychiatric evaluation and treatment for the abuser, restitution to the animal owner and restitution to the investigating law enforcement agency.  For youthful offenders in particular, psychiatric treatment is our last opportunity to stop the destructive behavior of malicious animal abuse before it escalates to violence against people. 

All of that said, there are still those who ask “What if?”  What if I hit a dog with my car while driving down the street?  What if I find a dying animal on the side of the road and kill it to put it out of its misery?  What if a dog is chasing, tormenting, or attacking my livestock?  What if I feel threatened by a dog and take action to protect myself?  The answer to all of these “what ifs” is the same. They are all covered in the exemptions within SB2623.  In order to be charged with a felony, you must, with malice, torture, maim, or commit aggravated cruelty against a dog or cat. This is largely a matter of common sense. After all, Mississippi has a misdemeanor cruelty law in place for dogs and cats, but I have yet to see someone convicted of accidentally hitting a dog with his or her car.

Here are the “what ifs” that I don’t hear.  What if someone decides to light their dog on fire because they are angry that she came home after being dumped in the country when she was no longer wanted?  What if someone decides to kill your dogs to exact revenge on you?  What if someone shoots your pet, on your property, because he wants to test out his new gun and see if he can hit your dog from his yard, and then he brags about it in front of his foster children?  What if someone purposely kills your guide dog?  What if someone decides to brutally torture and kill his dog in order to practice and gain confidence to commit a crime against a human being?  What if your estranged boyfriend decides to cut off your cat’s feet and make a keychain out of them or breaks into your home and decapitates your dog in order to “get back at you”?  What if someone breaks into a local animal shelter and beats five dogs to death with a hammer?  What if your neighbor beats your puppy to death with a shovel in front of your child?  What if someone steals your dog and you later find her, bound at the legs with a coat hanger, bloody, mangled, tortured, and dead?  

Sadly, these aren’t just “what ifs.”  They are actual animal cruelty cases in Mississippi over the last few years.   Would they all be felonies?  Maybe or maybe not. A prosecutor and judge would need to determine that based on the merits of the case.  The point is that those prosecutors and judges should have, in the most egregious cases of aggravated torture, the option of a felony charge. 

Having a felony conviction for the most heinous acts of torture isn’t just about putting someone in jail for a longer period of time. It is about ensuring that these people have a felony record so that they cannot get a job working in a school, nursing home, hospital, or anywhere else that would include contact with children or vulnerable adults.  It is about making sure that violent offenders do not possess guns. It is about a parent’s right to protect his or her child from a violent offender who could work in their child’s school because the offender didn’t get a felony conviction, even after committing an egregious act of violence. It is, quite simply, about ensuring community safety.  A first offense felony for animal abuse is a law enforcement and mental health issue.  If our jails are full, sentence these violent offenders to house arrest with ankle monitoring devices, but don’t turn them loose, without a felony record that a potential employer can look up, to work with those who may not have a voice of their own – our children, vulnerable adults, and our pets, These offenders need psychological evaluations, and often, counseling, and SB2623 will provide that option.

The people of Mississippi want the aggravated maiming and torture of dogs and cats to be prosecuted fully in order to protect people from the violent individuals who perpetrate these crimes.  Mississippi’s existing animal cruelty laws related to dogs and cats are inadequate to protect people and pets.  The time to act is TODAY!  Please support SB2623.

Tiffany Frautschi

President, MS-FACT

www.ms-fact.org

For Immediate Release
Contact: Jennifer Beasley, Artistic Director
info@msmetroballet.com
601-853-4508
MISSISSIPPI METROPOLITAN BALLET PRESENTS
“ALICE IN WONDERLAND”
Guest artists from American Ballet Theatre to join company for
March 7 performance at Thalia Mara Hall
February 10, 2010—The Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet, under the direction of Jennifer Beasley,
will present the one-act ballet “Alice in Wonderland” at Thalia Mara Hall in Jackson at 2 pm on March
7. The ballet will feature all original choreography, dazzling sets and costumes, and more than 50
dancers from the metro- Jackson area. Professional guest artists from Amercian Ballet Theatre and
American Ballet Theatre II will also be featured on the program, as will selections of original
choreography from the Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet repertoire. A special opportunity to meet the
cast will be offered at The Mad-Hatter’s Tea Party at the Mississippi Museum of Art following the
performance.
The Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet (MMB) is a non-profit regional ballet company that has
made its home in Madison for the past 16 years. The company annually presents “The Nutcracker” at
the Madison Square Center for the Arts and a spring production at Thalia Mara Hall. In 2006 and
2008, the company performed “Cinderella” to rave reviews and record audiences, and in 2009
presented the original ballet “Beauty and the Beast.” MMB is also the only ballet company in
Mississippi who is a member of the Southeast Regional Ballet Association, a division of Regional
Dance America.
Choreographer Jennifer Beasley brings Lewis Carroll’s classic to life in her version of Alice’s
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journey down the rabbit hole to the fanciful world of Wonderland. From the antics of the Cheshire Cat
and the Doormouse, to the frenzy of the Mad-Hatter’s Tea Party, to the Queen of Hearts’ outlandishly
surreal court, the ballet is sure to delight all ages. “My goal has been to make a ballet that, like ‘The
Nutcracker’, will appeal to children but will be equally suited for adults,” says Ms. Beasley.
The one-act “Alice in Wonderland” will comprise the second half of the program. Prior to
intermission, audience members will be treated to a performance of the famous “Don Quixote Pas de
Deux” by guest artists Meaghan Hinkis and Alberto Velazquez from American Ballet Theatre and
American Ballet Theatre II, respectively. Hinkis is the 2009 Helsinki International Ballet Competition
Bronze Medal winner in the Junior Division, and is a graduate of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
School at American Ballet Theatre. After dancing as a member of ABT II for six months, she has been
promoted to a corps de ballet member in American Ballet Theatre. Her partner, Velazquez, hails from
Havana, Cuba and is a Gold Medal winner from the Youth America Grand Prix ballet competition. He
has been a member of ABT II since September 2009. Hinkis and Velazquez will also perform an
original contemporary work by choreographer Roger Van Fleteren.
The first half of the March 7 program will also include two original works of choreography
from the Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet repertoire: a contemporary work titled “L’acte Royale” by
choreographer Leaia Caver and the neo-classical ballet “Orum” by choreographer Elmarie Wessels.
Featured local dancers in the performance include Erin Ivey, of Madison, in the role of Alice;
Victoria Hunter, of Brandon, as The Queen of Hearts; and MMB alumni Kevin Arredondo, of
Vicksburg, as The White Rabbit, and Dexter Bishop, of Clinton, as The Jabberwocky. Other dancers in
the production are members of the Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet and are students in the company’s
affiliated school, The Mississippi Metropolitan Dance Academy.
The Mad-Hatter’s Tea Party will follow the performance next door to Thalia Mara Hall in the
Mississippi Museum of Art. The party will include delectable treats and will also offer the chance to
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meet the dancers and have photos made with the characters from “Alice in Wonderland.”
Tickets for the performance range in price from $13 to $25 and can be purchased online at
www.msmetroballet.com or by calling (601) 853-4508. Tickets to The Mad-Hatter’s Tea Party must be
purchased separately and are $25 each.
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BankPlus presents Rachael Ray in Jackson, MS

JACKSON, MS (Feb. 24, 2010) – Rachael Ray, daytime talk show host, author and Food Network star – just to name a few of her accomplishments, is combining two of her passions, food and healthy living tips, and presenting two live shows at the Mississippi Coliseum, on April 10, 2010, at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.

In Rachael’s first visit to Jackson, her shows will be packed with great cooking, personal stories, a good time and healthy living tips – focusing on helping parents and children develop a healthy relationship with food. Joining Rachael on stage will be local favorite, Chef Luis Bruno.

BankPlus is joined by additional sponsors Central Mississippi Medical Center, Comcast Spotlight, and Viking. In addition to Rachael’s shows, a gift market, will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and will feature Mississippi businesses offering unique products for browsing and shopping, demonstrations, and sampling.

“We’re very excited to bring Rachael Ray to Jackson for the first time,” said Bill Ray, CEO of BankPlus. “Her warmth, energy, boundless enthusiasm and tips on healthy eating will make this a fun and educational event for all.”

“I am thrilled to be visiting Mississippi to help get kids and parents excited about the food they eat while embracing a healthier lifestyle,” said Ray. “Growing up, my family had a very positive relationship with food and cooking and that relationship helped shape my lifestyle and businesses. I hope that I can pass on my experiences with food and that they will inspire others to make better choices about the food they eat.”

Tickets are now on sale and are available through Ticketmaster and the ticket office at the Mississippi Coliseum. Ticket prices start at $19.50. BankPlus is extending a special offer to receive $5 off your Rachael Ray ticket price. Simply use code “BankPlus” when purchasing your ticket from any of the outlets mentioned.

For more information, call Janna Hughes at 601-573-0221 or email janna@jannahughesadvertising.com. Group Specials are available by contacting Janna Hughes.

About Rachael Ray
Rachael Ray is best known as the host of the hit syndicated Emmy Award winning daytime television show, Rachael Ray, produced by CBS Television Distribution in association with Harpo Productions, Scripps Networks and Watch Entertainment. Rachael’s warmth, energy and boundless curiosity also reaches scores of fans through her popular Food Network shows, like 30-Minute Meals, bestselling cookbooks published by Clarkson Potter, her own line of Rachael Ray cookware created by Meyer, knives by Furitechnics, signature food ingredients by Colavita and lifestyle magazine, Everyday with Rachael Ray. In 2007, Rachael launched the Yum-o! organization, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering kids and their families to develop healthy relationships with food and cooking. For more information, visit www.rachaelray.com.

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Media Contact:
Janna Hughes, Janna Hughes Advertising
(601) 573-0221
janna@jannahughesadvertising.com.

Press Release
Homeowner will protest Senate Insurance Committee Chairman for not allowing a vote on Homeowners Bill of Rights HB563

Contact: 228-343-2245 msinsurancebill@cableone.net www.msbillofrights.com

Long Beach homeowner Kevin Buckel, who lost his home in Hurricane Katrina only to be paid $1000 on his initial homeowner claim, will stage a one man protest in the Senate Lobby on Wednesday February 24th from 10am till 5pm.

Rep. Diane Peranich introduced HB563 Homeowner Bill of Rights for Buckel which improves all homeowners’ rights in the state when buying insurance and filing a claim. The bill passed the House 107-7, but for the 3rd year in a row, Chairman Eugene Clarke will not allow a vote on the Legislation. Buckel believes the insurance lobby is responsible for getting the peoples vote denied.

HB563 would place the Burden of Proof on insurance companies on an exclusion when a claim is denied, which is consistent with a recent court ruling, place reasonable time frames on payment of claims when a claim is approved, 30 day notice on premium increase of 10% or more, and equal treatment when filing a claim based on actuary principles.

These are the same rights that homeowners have in other states that border the Gulf of Mexico but are not afforded to homeowners in MS. Buckel said he is fighting for these rights because they especially protect the poor, elderly and homeowners who do not have the means to fight back when being unfairly treated by an insurance company.

On Tuesday February 16th a staff member from Lt. Governor Phil Bryant’s office contacted Buckel and informed him Chairman Clarke will not allow a vote on HB563. Buckel will protest this decision and has asked the committee members:

Eugene S. Clarke, Chairman; Bennie L. Turner, Vice-Chairman
Members: Terry W. Brown; Deborah Jeanne Dawkins; Bob M. Dearing; Billy Hewes; John Horhn; Kenneth Wayne Jones; Tom King; Dean Kirby; Alan Nunnelee; Michael Watson; Lee Yancey

to stand with him for 15 minutes as a show of support. Not one senator has responded. Buckel said he is especially disappointed in Senator Billy Hewes and coast Senators who has a significant influence in the senate and witnessed firsthand what happened to coast residents after Katrina for not supporting a vote on this legislation. I have also asked Commissioner Mike Chaney and Lt Governor Phil Bryant for support on getting a vote, but they have not responded to help give the people a vote on legislation that helps all homeowners in the state.

Buckel said all I want is a vote. We are starving for some leadership, and the leaders in the Senate and Commissioner Chaney are failing the people.

Contact:
Carolyn Stephenson
Vicksburg Bed & Breakfast Association
601-638-2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2nd Annual Tapestry: The Pilgrimage to Vicksburg

VICKSBURG, MS: The Vicksburg Bed & Breakfast Association and the Vicksburg Convention & Visitors Bureau announce plans for its 2010 Tapestry: The Pilgrimage to Vicksburg featuring presentations at historic locations throughout the city from Thursday, March 11 – Monday, April 5, 2010.
Tapestry will include interpretive presentations that tell the history of the city from antebellum grandeur to the turn of the 20th Century and even progressing into the 21st Century. “We are a unique river city with so many remarkable stories to tell,” says Vicksburg Bed and Breakfast Association president Carolyn Stephenson. “Our Tapestry presentations will bring those stories to life.”
In addition to regularly scheduled tour hours, 16 of Vicksburg’s most historic properties will tell their stories which together weave the Tapestry of what defines Vicksburg today. Those included in Tapestry are Anchuca Historic Mansion, Annabelle, Baer House, The Bazsinsky House, Duff Green Mansion, The Corners, Cedar Grove Mansion, Christ Episcopal Church, The Cobb House at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center, The George Washington Ball House, The Jacqueline House, Linden Plantation Gardens, The Martha Vick House, The Mary Harwood House, The Shlenker House, and the Old Court House Museum.
Betty Bullard, the vice president of the Vicksburg Bed & Breakfast Association, says that Tapestry: The Pilgrimage to Vicksburg is a perfect event for the city because of its history and what the city has to offer.
“Vicksburg is the key to the south,” she said. “That word ‘key’ was first used by Abraham Lincoln referring to Vicksburg’s strategic importance in the Civil War. We are still the key because of being strategically located on the bluffs of the mighty Mississippi River.
“The city is noted for its history, architecture, good food, and unique shopping. The Pilgrimage to Vicksburg is called Tapestry and you can enjoy every thread that weaves its way through your eyes to discover our town.”
Tapestry presentations will include collections of vintage 1800s fine china, silver and antiques, clothing, linens, Victorian jewelry, Civil War medical instruments and period tools. In addition, presentations will include quilting, tatting, period foods and spirits and special

presentations about the Davis Family of Warren County and the slave trade in Vicksburg. Tapestry will also feature special evening lecture series.
Stephenson expects Tapestry’s second year to be an even bigger success because of special presentations on weekends and more colorful presentations during the week.
“We were thrilled by the success of last year and expect this year to be even better. We are looking forward to an increase in visitors because we are offering more events. On Fridays and Saturdays, we will be having special presentations that will not only be informative, but vastly entertaining.”
Tapestry gives the experiences of early Vicksburg life and the chance to explore the fabric of Vicksburg society with tours of the historic homes and hallways. The interpretive presentations of Vicksburg’s history bring to life the heritage and culture of the remarkable river city. For over five decades of the 1800s, Vicksburg was the center for the aristocracy whose wealth was based on cotton and lumber. A glimpse of its former glory is evidenced by the preservation of many historical churches, government buildings and homes, some dating to the 19th Century.
Special overnight rates will be offered at bed and breakfasts participating in Tapestry during the time of the event. Ticket prices for Tapestry events are $25 for three homes/events or $10 for one home/event. Tickets are available at each venue and at the Vicksburg Convention & Visitors Bureau, 3300 Clay Street, Vicksburg, 601-636-9421. For a complete schedule and other information please visit www.vicksburgbedandbreakfast.com, www.visitvicksburg.com, or call the Vicksburg Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-221-3536.

DeeGardner; 601-896-3884

deegardner@comcast.net

DATE: February 18, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Museum to Host 7^th Annual Fossil Road Show on Saturday, March 6, 2010

Public invited to get expert opinions on their fossils’ ages and identities at annual event

Jackson, Miss. – Pack up your fossils and hit the road! The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science invites you to bring your favorite fossils and get expert opinions about their ages and identities from our team of scientists at the 7^th Annual Fossil Road Show on Saturday, March 6 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. There is no fee, other than regular Museum admission, to attend the event and reservations are not required.

• Fossils from the Museum collection will be on display, activities on interesting fossil subjects will be offered, and the Museum will feature one of its’ newest fossils – the thigh bone of a duck-billed dinosaur found near New Albany, MS. The fossil is the largest (at three feet long) and most complete dinosaur bone in the Museum’s collection.

• Who knows what might turn up this year? In late 2007, a young boy brought a fossil he found at the Ross Barnett Reservoir to Paleontology Curator George Phillips, who identified the fossil, which was the size of the boy’s palm, as a fossil shark tooth of a 30 foot Carcharocles auriculatus (eared big-tooth shark) from the Eocene epoch, about 35 to 34 million years old!

The museum is located at 2148 Riverside Drive in Jackson. Call 601.354.7303 or visit www.msnaturalscience.org for more information about this event and other programs offered by the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science. The Museum is part of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Museum Hours: Monday - Friday: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm; Saturday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm; Sunday: 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Admission: $5 adults; $3 children ages 3-18; $4 senior citizens (60+); free for children under 3; free for Museum Members; school teachers with classes: call for group information.