MPA/MPS Press Releases

Pilgrimage Garden Club Antiques Forum Benefits Historic Preservation

Natchez, MS- The 33rd Annual Pilgrimage Garden Club Antiques Forum will be held September 9-11, 2010 in historic Natchez, Mississippi. This event was described by Wendell Garrett, Editor at Large for The Magazine Antiques, as “…one of the best and longest continual Antiques Forum in America.”

“What are so amazing about Natchez,” says Garrett, “are the quality and the number of antebellum estates. Fine furniture, chandelier, silver; all these things were made to order and shipped to Natchez. This helped develop our American craftsmen,” said Garrett, renowned scholar in American history, decorative arts and furniture. “The wheels of art must be greased and in the 1800’s that grease or money was made in Natchez in cotton,” he said.

For thirty-three years, proceeds from the forum in Natchez have benefited Longwood, a National Historic Landmark and the largest octagonal house in America. “Longwood is the Eiffel Tower of Mississippi,” says Mrs. Michael Cates, co-chair of the event. “Not only is Longwood an architectural wonder, it gives visitors a tangible picture of what was here before the Civil War and how suddenly it was lost. It is an authentic journey into Southern history.”

Through events like their Antiques Forum and annual Spring and Fall Pilgrimages, the Garden Clubs of Natchez, Mississippi have preserved over 30 antebellum mansions—12 of them National Historic Landmarks—inspiring historic preservation throughout their city and, indeed, throughout the Deep South. “Since 1932, historic preservation has been our passion. We will hand it to future generations,” says Cates, “and we can–if we continue to raise awareness.”

“Antiques Forums like this one,” says Garrett, “not only serve to educate but they allow one to meet other collectors, reputable dealers, and designers. It is also a great way for interior designers to earn continuing education credits.”

Lecturers at this year’s forum include Wendell Garrett, Sotheby’s consultant and former editor in chief of Magazine Antiques, Jane Spillman, Curator of American Glass, The Corning Museum of Glass, Donald L. Fennimore, Senior Curator of Metals, Winterthur Museum, Gregory Weidman, Curator of Hampton National Historic Site, Towson, Maryland. Lectures will be held at the new Natchez Grand Hotel ballroom with a reception at National Historic Landmark, Stanton Hall, antebellum mansion, a luncheon at the famous Carriage House Restaurant on the grounds of Stanton Hall, a coffee at the historic First Presbyterian Church chapel featuring an exhibit of vintage 19th and early 20th century photographs, a tour of three antebellum mansions with lunch at The Burn, and Antiques Row shopping.

The Pilgrimage Garden Club 33rd Annual Antiques Forum strives to educate and inspire collectors and preservationists by creating a congenial atmosphere for sharing ideas and knowledge for everyone from professional historians to novice collectors and history buffs.

Ticket price:
$275 per person: All events. (Some events are available separately; for a full price list, contact the registrar at antiquesforum@bellsouth.net).

Additionally, the Antiques Forum is approved by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) for continuing education credit.

For a brochure or more information, email antiquesforum@bellsouth.net or visit www.antiquesnatchez.com. To make reservations, contact Forum Registrar Jan Scarborough at 601-445-7479.

The Antiques Forum is sponsored by the Pilgrimage Historical Association with the assistance of the members of the Pilgrimage Garden Club.

Media: Contact Publicity Chairman Courtney Taylor: courtshout@bellsouth.net, 601-597-1213 or 2010 Forum Co-Chair Eugenie Cates: evcates@earthlink.net, 601-432-2492, for more information and photographs.

Katrina Remembered: An epic storm, a monumental response
By HALEY FISACKERLY
President and Chief Executive Officer
Entergy Mississippi, Inc.

Thinking back, I don’t think anybody could have imagined what was coming.

Days before she hit, we were preparing the storm room when we realized Hurricane Katrina was going to hit the Mississippi or Louisiana coast. It was a sobering moment.

Monday, August 29—tracking the hurricane’s path, we watched outages mount, shell-shocked by the devastation. In that single day, 300,000 of our 410,000 customers lost power.

I was vice president of customer operations then, assigned to work with customer service, local officials, our communications team and crucial logistical needs. I was one cog in a well-oiled machine set in motion before Katrina’s landfall that ensured power would be restored. But what we learned with Katrina was that no matter what your planned role was, everything changed. We did whatever it took to rebuild an electrical infrastructure that had taken 80 years to create.

I was inspired by the way our employees set aside their personal losses to stand tall in their jobs, and at how retirees reported back to work, knowing they would be needed. One story of grit and determination particularly stands out.

A few days after the storm, the fuel crisis hit. People lined up at gas stations. Fights broke out.
The City of Jackson prepared for possible riots. Our trucks were on the verge of running out of fuel, too. The gasoline supply was tight because virtually all electricity in Collins was out. Collins is a major hub for piping fuel from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast. This put a major constraint on gasoline to the Mid-South, and was starting to impact the eastern seaboard. The Department of Energy and FEMA were concerned about fuel supplies to the rest of the country. We all needed that fuel. People’s lives were depending on it, and the U.S. economy would come to a halt if we didn’t do something to get the fuel moving.

We don’t serve Collins. Southern Pine Electric Power Association and Mississippi Power Company, which had 100 percent destruction, do. Mississippi Power asked for our help in getting electricity to the town, but we didn’t have a feed in there.

Luckily, some of our employees realized that we had a transmission interconnection just south of the Mississippi-Louisiana border that ties into Mississippi Power’s lines. Working with their employees, our guys figured out that if we rebuilt that segment we could tie into their system and flow power into Collins.

That was easier said than done. They had to first build a road through miles of marsh to even get to the area where a transmission tower and seven miles of line were crumpled and buried in muck. The next problem was finding a specialized helicopter that could airlift a transmission tower into the site.

Then-U.S. Senator Trent Lott and then-Maj. Gen. Harold Cross of the Mississippi National Guard came to the rescue, and the rebuilding of a major transmission artery and restoration of power to Collins, which should have taken weeks to accomplish, was finished in under seven days. A national crisis was averted.

I was so proud of our team for coming up with that plan. It’s a great example of people coming together to help one another out in our darkest hour.

I continue to see this spirit every day as our employees go about their jobs working to keep the lights on for our now-435,000 Mississippi customers.

Though Entergy’s “war room” lies mercifully dormant today, we are well prepared for this year’s hurricane season. Katrina was a demanding teacher, but the lessons we learned have led to improvements in customer service and logistics today.

We’re encouraged that natural disasters can and will be overcome by the human spirit. Entergy Mississippi has built a company that can meet challenges today and far into the future. We know
the dedication, energy and passion we’ve seen in our company and our state can fuel a brighter future for Mississippi.

Entergy Mississippi Customers See Usage Increase in Extreme Hot Weather

Jackson, Miss. – With temperatures continuing in the high nineties and above, Entergy Mississippi, Inc. is reminding customers that a few simple steps today can lead to big savings in the weeks ahead.

“It’s all about staying cool,” said Gloria Johnson, director of customer service for Entergy Mississippi, Inc. “Entergy has seen a dramatic increase in overall electricity consumption over last summer. We expect many of our customers will see higher electric bills in August and September as record-breaking temperatures continue to make it the hottest summer in the state in several years.”

To help customers manage their energy usage, company officials are sharing energy-saving tips and other important information through community presentations and targeted communications.

“We want our customers to know that we’re committed to working with them to ease the financial burden that summer electric bills can create,” said Johnson. “Also, there are things customers can do to help control their cooling costs.”

The company recommends the following:

· Conserve power. Set your thermostat at 78 degrees and use fans to move air around. Seal air leaks around windows and doors. Close curtains to block out incoming direct sun.

· Stay in touch and manage your account using My Account online and take advantage of helpful features such as our Bill Analyzer, billing and payment programs, and e-mail and text alerts.

· Get on Level Billing. Level Billing averages your electricity bill across 12 months. The summertime spikes disappear.

· We also offer Pick-A-Date, which is especially helpful if you receive monthly income checks and need to know how to plan your payments.

· Need more time to pay your bill? Call us. For qualifying customers, Entergy can delay the due date of your bill. Entergy Mississippi also offers assistance to elderly and disabled customers through The Power to Care program. To see if you qualify for this program, contact The Salvation Army.

· To take advantage of these or other services we offer, visit entergy.com and use My Account Online. New users need only their account number and ZIP code to register. Customers can also call 1-800-ENTERGY (1-800-368-3749).

Entergy Mississippi, Inc. provides electricity to more than 435,000 customers in 45 counties. It is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

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Entergy Mississippi’s online address is entergy-mississippi.com.

Twitter: @EntergyMediaMS

Local projects could get big money via votes

Five Metro Jackson projects could get thousands of dollars if enough “Web-wired” readers vote for funding every day throughout August.
Shelley Brown of Brown Bottling Group said, “That’s all it takes – votes via the Web.”
Brown explained that Pepsi invited individuals, business, and non-profits to submit Refresh Everything grant applications. For 12 months, winners will get $1.3 million in grants each month for projects designed to enhance arts and culture, education, health, food and shelter, neighborhoods, and The Planet.
Beyond the nationwide “Vote to Refresh America” opportunities, Pepsi also offers an extra $1.3 million for “Do Good for the Gulf” projects related to the Gulf oil spill disaster. The Gulf Do Good grant is a one-month-only promotion.
Brown said, “Pepsi recognized that the Gulf oil disaster is more than an environmental crisis. That disaster impacts the economy and our culture – it’s affecting communities throughout the Gulf region.”
Pepsi and Brown Bottling Group solidly support residents of the Gulf, Brown said, and “want to start making an impact right away. That’s why the Gulf Do Good projects will have a 12-month completion target.
“For August,” she said, “five local projects seek all the votes they can get. Two are on the Do Good for the Gulf side, and three projects are on the Refresh America side. The impact on local charities could reach $450,000 – that’s huge in these economic times!”
People, pets, and photo enthusiasts can win with the five Mississippi-proposed projects. Readers can vote and get details about each application through visiting the websites:
www.gulf.refresheverything.com/restorethegulfphotos
www.gulf.refresheverything.com/keeppetswithfamilies
www.refresheverything.com/cara
www.refresheverything.com/musicnmotion
www.refresheverything.com/mstoughkids
The top 10 applicants in each division of the vote-a-thon can get $5,000, $25,000, or $50,000, and the top two applicants in each can get $250,000 – potentially, 64 winners in the combined contests in August.
Locally, the Do Good applications – “Picture The Difference” and Animal Rescue Fund of Mississippi’s “Keep Pets With Families” – both seek $50,000 grants.
Suzi Altman advanced the proposal to document wildlife, fisheries, wetlands, and people impacted by the oil spill toward developing an education archive and display that would both cover and visit the whole region, Louisiana to Florida including Mississippi and Alabama.
Elizabeth Jackson with Animal Rescue Fund (ARF) said, “Many families have had to give up their pets because this oil disaster has wreaked economic havoc with their lives. When they have to decide whether to feed the children or the animals, their obvious choice is to feed the children and put the pets out for adoption. This grant would provide for those displaced pets.”
Through the “GimmeShelter” project, Community Animal Rescue and Adoption (CARA) would use its $50,000 to replace rusted animal kennels, equipment, and beds and also buy new food bowl and water dishes for cats and dogs.
Also seeking $50,000, Mississippi Music-n-Motion would repair and buy instruments, help pay a professional music educator, and give stipends to graduate student instructors. The organization collaborates with community partners to provide music education in after-school programs and also to offer students the musical instruments they play.
Going for one of the $250,000 prizes, Mississippi’s Toughest Kids Foundation would buy land, hire an architect, and secure construction contractors for the State’s first fully accessible camp facility for children (and adults) with serious illnesses and physical, mental, and emotional challenges. Building the facility likely will cost $20 million, but it all begins with the land, said Mary Smith for the Foundation.
The top 100 votes will roll over into September voting. Next month a new Mississippi icon, Restore Folk Art – Miss Margaret’s Grocery, will be a candidate for a $50,000 grant in the Refresh America division.
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August 11, 2010 Contact: Ed Sivak
For Immediate Release Office 601-944-4174
Email: esivak@mepconline.org

Education, Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Package Good for Mississippi
Nearly $250 million available for health care, education

JACKSON – The recent state fiscal relief legislation passed by the U.S. Senate provides for nearly a quarter of a billion dollars for the state budget. As Mississippi struggles to preserve critical levels of education, training and health care, the legislation represents an important boost for the state’s economy and its people in these difficult times.

The following money will be made available if the legislation passes the House of Representatives:

Enhanced FMAP Extension Education Jobs Fund Total
Mississippi $151,429,000 $98,147,000 $249,576,000
Source: Federal Funds Information for the States

“With teachers losing their jobs and class sizes increasing, pulling down these resources should be a top priority for the state” said Ed Sivak, Director of the Mississippi Economic Policy Center. “The worst thing we could do now is leave this money on the table.”

While questions remain about how to pull the funds down without moving money from other state services, Mississippi should explore all options, such as the use of reserves and new money made available by the legislation, to pull down these important federal resources while implementing a balanced approach that will position the state for prosperity when good times return.

About MEPC
The Mississippi Economic Policy Center is an independent, nonpartisan initiative that undertakes rigorous and timely analysis on issues that affect the economic and social well being of working families and low-wealth Mississippians. MEPC is managed by the Enterprise Corporation of the Delta (ECD), a regional financial institution and community development intermediary dedicated to strengthening communities, building assets and improving lives in economically distressed areas across the Mid South.

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For Immediate Release August 5, 2010
For More Information Contact: Tina Bruno @ 210.559.5277 or Via email at Bruno.tinarose@gmail.com

Parents Give Early-August School Start Dates an “F”

A 48 percent increase in energy use, $153 million in lost revenue to the state and opposition from more than 78 percent of those surveyed has earned early-August school start dates in Mississippi an “F” from the grassroots group Save Mississippi Summers. The group says that regardless of when the school year begins students receive 180 days of instruction and research shows the school calendar configuration does not impact academic success. Most recently, Texas, Florida and South Carolina lawmakers put an end to early-August school start dates in their home states and data from each states’ department of education shows academic scores continue to rise. School administrators say early-August school start dates are needed to provide students with as many instructional days as possible before state required standardized tests and to allow the first semester to end prior to the winter break, all more important than cost and savings to the state, they say. Save Mississippi Summers representatives say if the vacation time scheduled between the first and last day of school was reduced schools would have no problem maximizing student instruction before state exams. And, they say if that is really a concern they would be happy to include in their legislative proposal moving the testing window back as well. As for when the first semester should end, advocates of later start dates point to decades of well documented research into what experts call the “Spacing Effect” – research on memory and how to increase long term retention of material. The idea is simple, the longer the time between the introduction of material and the review, the better able one is to know if the material has been retained or is being regurgitated and likely to be forgotten quickly after the test. Experts say ending the first semester after the winter break would be the best measurement of student retention while giving teachers the time needed to review information not really learned by the students before the break.
Save Mississippi Summers supporters say that while they understand the winter break is a natural end to the first semester it is also the busiest for most high school students and is not conducive to studying. They say the week before the break is also the week students are busy participating in civic programs and enjoying the festivities associated with the upcoming holiday. They say ending the first semester after the winter break gives students time to enjoy the last few years of childhood without forgoing putting full effort into studying for end-of-semester exams. Of the 11 states that have later school start date laws in effect all had higher 2009 ACT composite Scores than Mississippi and all but one had a greater percentage increase in scores when comparing 2009 data to 1998 scores. According to Tina Bruno, executive director of the national group, The Coalition for a Traditional School Calendar the top academic states in the nation end the first semester after the winter break and continue to outperform Mississippi and most other states. “It is ridiculous to credit academic success or failure to when semesters end or when the school year begins,” Bruno said. “If the material being taught is expected to be retained for a standardized test given in the spring or for as a basis for courses offered the following year it would stand to reason teachers are focused on retention and not regurgitation of material.” “I have talked to many teachers in Mississippi and they have not had any concerns about when the semesters end but they are very concerned about the extreme heat associated with early-August school start dates,” Bruno said. “Teachers say not only is it more expensive but the extreme heat causes the children to become easily fatigued, cranky and less focused than cooler times of the year. Teachers are telling me they would rather be in school longer in May and even hold classes the first week of June than return in August heat.” Teachers are right about it being hotter in August than May. According to data reported by the National Climatic Data Center, it takes 48 percent more energy to cool schools in August than in May. Save Mississippi Summers says reducing cooling days in August would decrease annual cooling costs for schools and allow that money to flow into needed educational and classroom supplies. Superintendents counter that argument saying schools are forced to run cooling systems all year round to prevent mold, so when the school year begins doesn’t matter. They add that if the school year begins later in August it will just let out later in May and the end date could move into early June, counteracting any savings. The group says while running systems year round to prevent mold is needed it costs significantly more to cool buildings when 20 or more students are piled into classrooms. They also add that Mississippi’s heat index is similar to that of Texas schools saw significant savings when the start date was pushed back. The Texas Legislature passed a law in 2007 preventing schools from beginning student instruction prior to the forth Monday in August. According to a Houston Chronicle investigative report the following year, the move saved school districts millions of dollars. The August 20, 2008 Chronicle article said some districts reported using half as much energy in August as before the mandate. During a legislative hearing on the issue last year school administrators and representatives from the school board association said parents have a say in the school calendar now and that early-August start dates are supported. Supporters of the group laugh, saying if that was the case public opinion polls wouldn’t show such wide spread support for a start date closer to Labor Day. According to a January 2010 public opinion poll by The Bradley Research Group 76.3 percent of those surveyed supported moving the start date closer to Labor Day. Fifty-three percent of respondents thought non-traditional school
holidays should be removed in order to push back the start date and 46 percent preferred extending the school year later in May. Supporters of Save Mississippi Summers say setting a fourth Monday in August school start would create an additional $153 million in new economic output - money the group says would go a long way in helping legislators increase funding to Mississippi public schools and would help provide some of the needed funds to better pay the talented teachers of Mississippi. According to a the January 2010 report: An Introductory Study of Later School Start Dates in Mississippi, by the Gulf Coast Business Council Research Foundation, moving start dates back would generate more than $100 million in new tourism spending, $40 million in new wages and over 1,500 jobs. Economic impact studies showed similar economic projections in Florida and Texas, based on the economic activity in each state. Follow-up studies confirm the economic boost promised was realized. “Until everyone of our students receives all the academic support they need without cost to their parents, until our teachers are the highest paid in the country and our taxpayers are taxed the least of any state we cannot turn our back on an idea tried and proven successful in states with higher academic ratings than our own,” said Rep. Diane Peranich (D-Harrison). Supporters of Save Mississippi Summers say they were encouraged when legislation passed the Mississippi House of Representatives last year and hope the Senate will study the issue and lend support next session as well. To learn more about the issue log onto the groups’ web site at www.SaveMississippiSummers.org.

Contact: Suzanne Anderson
601-437-6393
sander1entergy.com

Grand Gulf Nuclear Station Celebrates 25 Years of Powering Mississippi
Plant continues longstanding record of safe, reliable and virtually emission-free generation

Port Gibson, Miss. – In 1985, Ronald Reagan took the oath of office for his second term and “New Coke” was introduced and quickly rejected by consumers. In July of that same year, Entergy also made history with the opening of Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, marking a new era of safe, reliable, affordable and virtually emission-free electricity production for the people of Mississippi.
“Power from Grand Gulf plays a crucial role in filling Mississippi’s energy needs, and of course, the energy we generate domestically lessens our dependence on foreign energy sources,” said Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour. “As a major industrial site, Grand Gulf also serves as an economic driver for the state contributing significant tax dollars, stabilizing utility costs and helping attract other industries.”

Grand Gulf provides approximately 700 jobs in the community, has a payroll of about $70 million and pays $29 million in taxes each year. The plant is known worldwide for its commitment to safe operations, industry-leading performance records and a legacy of community leadership.
“For 25 years, the employees of Grand Gulf have carried through on a promise to operate the plant in a safe and responsible manner,” said Randy Douet, vice president of operations at Grand Gulf. “We greatly value the trust of the public and our place in the community.”
Benefits of Grand Gulf also include saving Entergy Mississippi, Inc.’s 435,000 customers hundreds of thousands of dollars a day compared to electricity produced using other fuels like natural gas.
“Having Grand Gulf as part of the energy mix in Mississippi has had an overwhelmingly positive impact for the economy and the environment,” said Haley Fisackerly, president and chief executive officer of Entergy Mississippi, Inc. “Over the years, Grand Gulf has helped keep customer rates stable and acted as a buffer against the unpredictable prices of natural gas.
“In addition, Grand Gulf’s clean-air generation helps protect Mississippi’s valuable natural resources.”
Grand Gulf is also committed to improving the community. Plant workers regularly combine forces with Entergy Mississippi employees to help with fund-raising and volunteer efforts in Port Gibson and Claiborne County.
“Our employees feel a deep connection to the community, as well as an obligation to help improve the quality of life where they live and work,” Fisackerly said. “That’s a trademark of Entergy employees wherever you go, and Grand Gulf is a prime example of that spirit of generosity.”
Plans for an upgrade that will increase the plant’s production capacity will be completed by 2012 and make Grand Gulf Nuclear Station the largest single-unit nuclear power producer of its type in the world.
“Support from the state and community paired with Entergy’s high standards of excellence have kept Grand Gulf operating safely and successfully for 25 years,” Douet said. “Those are the same qualities that will continue fueling Grand Gulf well into the future.”
Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $10 billion and more than 15,000 employees.

Learn more about Grand Gulf Nuclear Station
through a series of videos at entergy-nuclear.com.

Follow Entergy Nuclear on Twitter, @EntergyNuclear

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:
Laura Beth Lyons
Marketing & Special Events
Vicksburg Convention & Visitors Bureau
P.O. Box 110
Vicksburg, MS 39181
601-636-9421

Miss Mississippi 2009 Anna Tadlock

Pageant Brings Thousands to Vicksburg

VICKSBURG, MS (June 28, 2010)- The Miss Mississippi Pageant brings thousands of fans to the city of Vicksburg to cheer on their favorite contestant to win the Miss Mississippi crown. 45 contestants will compete to represent the state at the Miss America Pageant in January.
David Blackledge, Miss Mississippi Pageant director said that the Vicksburg Convention Center will have about 2100 people on Saturday night of the pageant, 2000 on Friday night and between 1800-1900 on Wednesday and Thursday.
“Pageant week is a tremendous economic boom for the city,” Blackledge said. “People come in for 8 days from around the state to stay in our hotels, use our florists, and to shop around town especially downtown and at the Outlets.”
This year’s host hotel, La Quinta Inn & Suites, is going above and beyond to make the pageant girls feel at home. Julie Ford, sales and marketing director for MY Hospitality Services L.L.C., said that they are very excited to host the girls and feel like they are helping in the effort to promote Vicksburg in the process. Special deliveries can be made to the contestants Monday through Friday at the La Quinta Inn & Suites from 2-4 p.m.
“We have some exciting things planned for the girls that have never been done before,” said Ford. “The hotel is completely decorated for the pageant. We have each contestant’s picture on a star on her door. Once the pageant starts, each day the winners will have their stars on display in the front of the hotel.”
Ford said that the host hotel has assisted with the parents and directors including putting together tour itineraries for things to do in Vicksburg and a list of Top Ten restaurants to dine at.
“Special requests were broadcasted on facebook and we received 30 phone calls from parents and families on wanting suggestions on what to do in Vicksburg,” said Ford. “We really take advantage of what all our city has to offer to get the parents and friends out and about in the community. One family has 25 people from around the United States and we have planned their whole itinerary on things to do in Vicksburg.
“Two of our hotel properties are sold out for that week and they typically don’t sell out during this week especially with all the new hotels in our area,” said Ford. MY Hospitality Services properties in Vicksburg include the Wingate by Wyndham, Motel 6, Fairfield Inn, La Quinta, and Days Inn. “The pageant is going to be bigger than every this year.”
This year’s Miss Mississippi Pageant is held at the Vicksburg Convention Center at 8 p.m. on Saturday July 10. Preliminary pageants will be Wednesday through Friday July 7-9 also at 8 p.m. Pageant activities begin on July 3 at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center Auditorium with the Prince and Princess Crowning Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
The Miss Mississippi Pageant Parade and autograph parties also contribute to Vicksburg’s “economic boom” during pageant week. The parade will be downtown along Washington Street on Monday July 5 at 7 p.m. An autograph party at participating downtown stores will follow and stores will stay open until 9 p.m.
“The Miss Mississippi Pageant week has a huge impact on downtown,” said Kim Hopkins, executive director of Vicksburg Main Street. “The parade attracts contestant’s family and friends along with people in our community. Relatives come from all over to support their girls in the pageant. The downtown stores order special items just for this time. Parents are able to send contestants gifts and gift baskets from different stores. Overall it is tremendous for our whole community.”
“Sales go up between gifts and people shopping in general,” said Karen Ruggles, owner of Cinnamon Tree, one of downtown’s boutique gift shops. “It gives people a reason to get out and about during the summertime. The pageant is such an asset for our city.”
The Outlets at Vicksburg will also host an autograph party from 10-11:30 a.m. on Thursday July 8 in the meeting room next to Billy’s Italian Restaurant. Select stores will open early at 9:30 a.m. so shoppers can take advantage of sales.
“It’s our busiest week of the summer,” said Paige Caldwell, Marketing & Special Events for the Outlets at Vicksburg. “We are happy to help promote the pageant and host one of the events.”
Miss Mississippi 2009 Anna Tadlock will make her last public performance outside the pageant at Vicksburg’s Fourth of July “Sparks on the River.” She will kick off Independence Day festivities at the Vicksburg Waterfront with the National Anthem at 7 p.m.. Music entertainment by Super T and fireworks on the Mississippi River will follow.
For ticket information for the Miss Mississippi Pageant call 601-638-6746 or visit www.missmississippipageant.com. For more information about Vicksburg and Vicksburg events call the Vicksburg Convention & Visitors Bureau at 601-636-9421 or toll free at 800-221-3536 or visit online at www.visitvicksburg.com.

Contact:
Mara Hartmann
601-969-2520 (office)
601-594-9042 (cell)
mhartma@entergy.com

Entergy Mississippi, Low-Income Advocates Tackle Poverty at Annual Summit
Goal is to improve the lives of low-income residents

Jackson, Miss. – More than 200 social workers and other low income advocates from across the state gather in Jackson this week to tackle challenges facing Mississippi’s poorest residents.
These low-income advocates are at the 2010 Annual Partnership Conference sponsored by Mississippi Association of Community Action Agencies and Entergy Mississippi, Inc.
Under the theme of “Making an Impact, Making a Difference,” the conference runs June 29-July 1 at the Jackson Marriott. A session on global climate change, numerous workshops, a national legislative update and a forum on poverty are on the agenda.
“Census figures show about 25 percent of Entergy Mississippi’s 435,000 customers live in poverty,” said Liz Brister, manager of external affairs for Entergy Mississippi, Inc. “That’s one out of every four people! This is unacceptable to us.”
The best tool for dismantling poverty is education, and Brister says this year’s forum will focus on that.
“The panelists represent some of the state’s top leaders in the goal to improve school readiness for Mississippi’s underprivileged children,” she said. “They represent organizations like the Children’s Defense Fund, Delta Health Alliance and Mississippi Building Blocks.”
The summit will also feature a national speaker from the Pew Center on Global Climate Change. Jenny Denney Lawson will address the relationship between greenhouse gas emissions, a changing climate and how proposed federal legislation might affect the state’s low-income population..
“Whether it’s destruction from Mother Nature, an economic downturn or an oil spill crisis, every day brings another example of why communities must work together to address the difficult issues so many of our fellow Mississippians face,” said Willie Martin, executive director of the Mississippi Association of Community Action Agencies. “We’ve made progress over this past decade, but there’s still a lot of work to do.
“Every time we succeed it not only helps our low-income residents, it helps build a more promising and productive future for all of us.”
The low income summit was started 11 years ago when Entergy Corporation committed to increase resources and work toward improving the lives of low-income customers.
“Since that time, Entergy Mississippi has invested more than $2 million in grants and direct program expenses and countless hours of its human capital to address poverty in our state,” said Brister. “We’ve also raised more than $3 million for the Power to Care fund to help low income elderly and disabled customers pay their utility bills.”
Entergy is recognized nationally for its efforts to improve the lives of its low-income customers. In 2009, Entergy Corporation received Chartwell Inc.’s Best Practices Award for Serving Low-Income Customers for the company’s “exceptional commitment and innovative approach to helping poverty-stricken customers move toward self-sufficiency.”
A low-income progress report will be given during the conference. The 2009 low-income progress report can be accessed at http://www.entergy.com/our_community/low_income_reports.aspx.
Entergy Mississippi, Inc. provides electricity to more than 433,000 customers in 45 counties. It is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
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Entergy Mississippi’s online address is entergy-mississippi.com.

For Immediate Release
June 17, 2010

Contact:
Louie Miller, 601-624-3503
Robert Wiygul 228-990-1228

Sierra Club Appeals Commissioners’ Flip Flop on Kemper

Harrison County, MS – Sierra Club filed a lawsuit today in chancery court challenging the decision by two members of the Mississippi Public Service Commission to revoke their previous decision, and allow Mississippi Power Company to stick the ratepayer with an additional half a billion dollars in costs for its proposed Kemper County coal fired power plant. Commissioners Leonard Bentz and Lynn Posey also voted to overturn their previous decision of less than a month, and let Mississippi Power charge ratepayers for the costs of the plant before it is even built! The Sierra Club is also appealing Mississippi Power’s decision – which Bentz and Posey approved - to keep the actual rate impacts of the plant SECRET from the public.

Though ratepayers will be saddled with these exorbitant costs, the Commission refused to order Mississippi Power to disclose how much customers will pay in rates for the new plant. “Agreeing to unknown increased electric rates for Kemper is like buying a car when the salesman won’t tell you what it costs,” said Louie Miller, state representative for the Sierra Club. “This is an outrage and betrayal of the public trust”.

On April 29, 2010, after hearing over a year of expert testimony on whether Kemper would be the lowest cost electricity option for ratepayers, the Commission found that the Kemper project was in the public interest only if it costs were capped at $2.4 billion, and that customers could NOT be charged for the costs of the plant up front.. The original order found that the experimental coal plant’s “many uncertainties and risks, concerning technology, cost and performance, given Mississippi Power Company’s insistence that these uncertainties and risks fall largely on ratepayers, are too high compared with the project’s asserted benefits.”

Mississippi Power responded to the April 29th order by announcing that it could not construct the plant under those conditions, and though it provided no new information or arguments, the company formally asked the Commission to reconsider its ruling.

In an unprecedented flip flop, on May 26th, two members of the Mississippi Public Service Commission overturned their decision from just one month earlier, shifting the financial risk of the Kemper coal plant from Fortune 500 company investors on to the backs of Ms. Power customers.. Commissioners Leonard Bentz and Lynn Posey adopted language proposed by Mississippi Power that allows up to $480 million in cost overruns to be passed through to ratepayers, and forces customers to begin paying for the plant immediately, EVEN if it never produces electricity.
“Its not coincidental that the “flip flop” occurred less than 72 hours after Governor Hailey Barbour sent a strongly worded letter to the Commissioners insisting the plant get built” said Louie Miller. “It is also not lost on us that Barbour’s Washington lobby firm; BGR; represents Southern Company, parent company of Ms. Power, who touted on their website they were responsible for lobbying the Department of Energy to land federal money for Kemper”.

The Sierra Club intends to show that the Commissioners’ reversal is arbitrary and is unsupported by the record, which is the legal standard governing the appeal. AsNorthern District Commissioner Brandon Presley explains in his dissenting opinion: “It seems that the only reason the majority changed its mind in this case is because the company insisted. That is not a valid reason for decision-making and certainly is a terrible way to regulate….[The public interest] does not get moved around in response to the other party’s needs…The public interest is not here today and gone tomorrow, nor is it built in shifting sand.”

Robert Wiygul, Sierra Club’s attorney who filed the appeal and has represented the Sierra Club throughout the year long proceeding, noted that the two commissioners seemed to have thrown out the factual basis for their original decision just because Mississippi Power complained. “It is astonishing to see a year’s worth of hearings and investigation thrown out because the power company got upset,” Wiygul said. “Where’s the concern for the ratepayer?”

If Kemper goes forward, it will stand in stark contrast to current trends in the electric sector. No new coal plants have started construction in the last 18 months because of opposition to high costs, declining energy needs, and concerns about pollution. “Kemper still remains a Dirty Expensive and Unnecessary proposition” stated Louie Miller.