MPA/MPS Press Releases

Get geared up for a fantastic festival season

Tupelo, Miss. – Spring festival season has come around again in Tupelo, Miss., and the city is rolling out some record-breaking fun with a fantastic festival around every corner from May through July sure to entice and lure visitors of all ages and interests.
Linda Johnson, executive director of the Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), said: “During festival season, there is truly something for everyone from classic cars, stars, terrific food and the arts.  We hope everyone will come to Tupelo to see what we have to offer.  Our talent is hospitality, and festival-goers are sure to have a great time!”
The fun begins April 30 through May 3 with the Tupelo Blue Suede Cruise at BancorpSouth Arena.  Attendees can see antique cars, classics and hot rods in a weekend of 50’s and 60’s style cruisin’ and rock and roll entertainment.  A classic car auction will also be held, and visitors can place their bids on a classic car to call their own.
Next up is the Dudie Burger Festival May 2 at Oren Dunn City Museum in Ballard Park.  The festival provides a snapshot of the late 19th century with demonstrations, reenactments, blacksmithing, and the opportunity to dine in an old Memphis streetcar. On the menu is the famous Dudie’s Dough Burger, a recipe of meat, flour and water that came from rationing during World War II.
The 38th Annual Cellular South Gumtree Festival will take place at the Courthouse Square May 8 through 10.  Visitors can expect high quality art on display in a variety of mediums from traditional crafts and clay sculptures to oil paintings and pottery, and from jewelry and photography to numerous original works of art.

The 6th Annual Tupelo Film Festival May 14 through 16 allows visitors to see and experience over forty independent films from filmmakers world-wide.  A robust schedule of special screenings and events will keep attendees entertained all weekend.

June 5 through 7, Tupelo celebrates its most famous native son with the 10th Annual Elvis Presley Festival.  The festival will take place on the streets of Downtown Tupelo, and attendees can join fans from all over the world in a weekend of musical entertainment and activities that appeal to all ages from all facets of Elvis’ musical career: from rockabilly to gospel.  The weekend includes special tours, a parade and Tribute Artist competition.  Country Star Jason Michael Carroll and band Lucero will headline this year’s festival.

For history buffs and Civil War enthusiasts, the 145th Anniversary Reenactment of the Civil War battle at Brice’s Crossroads June 12 through 14 will surely satisfy.  Events include historically authentic scenarios on original battlefield property, period sutlers, cavalry, artillery firing, and soldiers’ camps.  The weekend also includes a children’s discovery day.

Festival season finishes big July 4 with the All-American City Family Picnic in the Park.  This event, awarded the 2006 Mississippi Recreation and Park Association Special Event of the Year, provides many activities that include prime entertainment for all ages, a variety of food vendors, and great fun for all the kids.

Just as spring festival season in Tupelo, Miss. provides a multitude of events that offer something for literally every interest and age group, so do the city’s many attractions. When visitors need a break from festival activities, they can tour a classic car museum filled with over 100 antique and classic cars, go wild at an exotic animal park, experience Elvis Presley at his birthplace and museum, shop at one of the state’s largest malls, or take their children to a health education center to learn about the human body through interactive displays.

For more information about festival season or to enter to win a free trip to Tupelo, go to www.tupelo.net/sweepstakes or call 800.533.0611.

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Founded in 1985, the Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau’s mission is to promote Tupelo as a viable site to visit in the State of Mississippi; to provide support for tourism-related projects; and to educate and assist the public regarding tourism development, which will result in increased tourism revenue and a positive image for the City of Tupelo.  Visit the Tupelo CVB at www.tupelo.net.

Contact: Scot Slay
Office: (601) 944-4175
Email: sslay@ecd.org

Episcopal Network for Economic Justice Honors HOPE for
Long-Term Commitment to Mid South Communities

Jackson, MS – Hope Community Credit Union (HOPE) is the 2009 recipient of the Gloria Brown Award in recognition of its work in extending economic opportunities to individuals and communities in the Mid South.  The award is given each year to an outstanding faith-based project by the Episcopal Network for Economic Justice (ENEJ).

Established in 2003 to honor the late Gloria Brown, the award is given for work done as part of an outstanding faith-based economic justice project.  Brown worked tirelessly to establish credit unions and other grassroots economic and social justice programs throughout the United States as the director of the Episcopal Church’s Coalition for Human Needs.

“During these difficult financial times, communities in economically distressed areas are the hardest hit, and there is still a tremendous need,” said Rev. Carol Borne Stewart.  “We are pleased to honor those continually working to make a difference.”

HOPE’s mission is to strengthen communities, build assets and improve lives in economically distressed areas of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.  Since 1994, HOPE and its nonprofit sponsor, Enterprise Corporation of the Delta, have assisted more than 40,000 individuals and generated over $1 billion in financing for entrepreneurs, homebuyers and community development projects.

In presenting the award, the ENEJ called specific attention to HOPE’s work on the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina.  After the storm, HOPE established an office in Biloxi and expanded its New Orleans branch in order to provide financial and technical assistance to help thousands of residents rebuild their lives.

“Support from the Episcopal Church and its membership has been vital to HOPE’s efforts in the Delta,” said Bill Bynum, chief executive officer of ECD/HOPE.  “It is humbling to have our work recognized by a group with such a strong commitment to equity and economic justice.“

The award was presented in February during the Episcopal Network for Economic Justice and Episcopal Urban Caucus Assembly.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 21, 2009

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COMBINE RETURNS TO TUPELO

Tupelo, Miss. –Officials announced today the return of the Steve Robertson Southeast Select Combine to Tupelo, Miss. on May 23 at Tupelo High School.  Last year, the inaugural event hosted more than 100 top high school football athletes from Mississippi and surrounding states.

The combine will host athletes in their junior year of school advancing into their 2009-2010 senior year.  The roster is built on personal observation, film review and contact with local high school coaches. The combine serves to put athletes and scouts from across the region together to evaluate the possibility of scholarships.

“We’re happy to be back in Tupelo hosting this event,” said Steve Robertson, combine organizer.  “The inaugural event was such a success and we feel like we reached a bunch of athletes that might have fallen through the cracks.”

The combine will begin with registration at 9 a.m, measurements at 10 a.m., and will be followed with testing and drills such as the vertical jump test, 40-yard dash and three-cone drill.  Athletes will be given instructions and advice from trainers based on their positions.

“We’re proud to have the combine here for a second year offering this exposure to our local athletes,” said Neal McCoy, director of sports development for the Tupelo Convention and Vistors Bureau.  “This opens the doors for many students across the state to help secure scholarships and gain avenues of exposure that they may not have access to.”

For more information on the combine, contact Steve Robertson at SRobertson@scout.com.

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Founded in 1985, the Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau’s mission is to promote Tupelo as a viable site to visit in the State of Mississippi; to provide support for tourism-related projects; and to educate and assist the public regarding tourism development, which will result in increased tourism revenue and a positive image for the City of Tupelo. Visit the Tupelo CVB at www.tupelo.net .

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Neal McCoy
Tupelo CVB
Phone: 800-533-0611
nmccoy@tupelo.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, call Glenna Callender at (662) 647-2061 or (662) 809-2030

CHARLESTON, Mississippi — The Charleston Arts and Revitalization Effort will sponsor its fourth annual antique tractor and car show and tractor pull Saturday, April 25, at the Tallahatchie County Fairgrounds on Mississippi Highway 32, two miles east of Charleston.

Gates will open at 8:30 a.m.  Admission is $5 for adults and $1 for children.

Dozens of vendors will be set up on the fairgrounds, selling everything from ceramics and pottery items to T-shirts, homemade quilts, birdhouses, clothing and candles, as well as offering face painting, silhouette portraits and numerous food items, including crawfish, hot dogs and funnel cakes.  Booths continue to be available for rental for as little as $25.  For more information about booth space, contact Charles Nelson at 647-8969.

SonShine Rec of Grenada will offer several inflatable activities, and other games will be available for a small fee.

Organized festivities will get underway at 9:30 a.m. with a parade of antique tractors and antique cars from the fairgrounds to the nearby Charleston Court Square and back again.  A little train will lead the procession.

Members of Dixie Iron Tractor Club of New Albany and the Mean Green Pullers of Greenwood will kick off the main activity, the tractor pull, at 11 a.m.  Trophies will be awarded to top finishers in each class.  Children will participate in “pedal tractor pulling” using pedal tractors furnished.  All pedal tractor riders will receive a ribbon.

Those attending may stroll the scenic fairgrounds, perusing the booths and taking a stroll down memory lane by viewing classic and antique tractors and cars which will be on display throughout the day, including some tractors not involved in the competition. For more information about the antique car show, contact Mike Fox at 647-3411.

From 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., musical entertainment will be offered in the fairgrounds arena, featuring local recording artists Laura Warner and Glenda Brock Woods.  Also performing will be Beth Aldridge, Dakota Byrd, Randy Byrd, Shetika Ellis, Takeisha Johnson, Beth McLendon, Lisa Miller, Jordan Raney, Arlie Strider and Carol Sturgis.

The public is invited to attend this annual family-oriented activity in Tallahatchie County.

For more information, contact Glenna Callender at (662) 647-2061 or (662) 809-2030.

For more information
CONTACT: Louie Miller, Sierra Club 601-624-3503

Mississippi Power’s Dirty Coal Proposal in the Cross Hairs

Jackson, MS - The Environmental Protection Agency today issued a
finding that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases represent a
significant threat to public health and welfare. Today’s “endangerment
finding,” based on tens of thousands of public comments and years of work
by EPA’s career staff and scientists, ends more than two years of
uncertainty following the Supreme Court’s landmark Massachusetts v. EPA
decision and brings to a close the Bush Administration era of climate
denial.  EPA now has both the authority and the obligation to regulate
global warming pollution, with concrete action on motor vehicle emissions
expected soon.

“Where the Bush administration lagged, the Obama administration is now
leading.  There is no longer a question of if or even when the U.S. will
act on global warming.  We are doing so now,” said David Bookbinder, Sierra
Club Chief Climate Counsel. “President Obama is taking it to the hoop when
it comes to our most pressing problems.  This step will allow the
administration to move forward while continuing to work with Congress to
pass a strong clean energy jobs and climate plan.”

“Mississippi Power’s proposed Kemper County Dirty Coal Plant will now have
to address the cold hard fact that it will generate 15 billion pounds of
carbon dioxide annually. There’s a new sheriff in town and Mississippi Power
can no longer hide behind its smoke and mirrors,” said Louie Miller, State
Director of the Sierra Club in Mississippi.

Today’s announcement is just the latest move underscoring the
administration’s comprehensive approach to building the clean energy
economy.  To demonstrate support for the Obama administration’s ambitious
plans for rulemaking, the Sierra Club will be mobilizing its activists
through the new  “Big Picture” campaign.

“President Obama sees the Big Picture-by shifting to clean energy, and
cracking down on the corporations that pollute the water we drink and the
air we breathe, we can restore our economy to prosperity and reduce our
dependence on oil and coal, all while tackling global warming,” said Carl
Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director.

Entitled “The Big Picture: Help Obama Build Our Clean Energy Future” the
grassroots effort will employ online and off-line tactics to generate
public comments and support for the numerous administrative findings, rules
and regulations expected over the coming months and years.
“From cleaner cars and cleaner smokestacks to mining pollution and directly
addressing carbon pollution, all of these pieces fit together to form the
Big Picture-a clean energy future that transforms our economy and protects
the planet,” said Pope.

For more information on the Big Picture campaign, please visit
www.sierraclub.org/bigpicture .

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By Rebecca B. Drake

On May 16, 2009, the Champion Heritage Foundation will host an all-day event to commemorate the 146th Anniversary of the Battle of Champion Hill. Mark your calendar and plan to attend.

The activities will begin at 8 a.m. on the grounds of the Champion Hill Missionary Baptist Church - the site of the original Champion family home, which was burned by the Yankees in 1863. Signs along the Champion Hill Road west of Bolton will mark the way. At 9 o’clock, Dr. Timothy Smith, author of Champion Hill: Decisive Battle for Vicksburg, will speak on the battle which changed the course of the Vicksburg Campaign as well as the entire war.

During the ceremony on the church grounds, Sid Champion, the fifth generation Champion to hold the name “Sid,” will unveil a new historic marker to be placed on the Hill of Death. The marker was made possible by the Champion Heritage Foundation and is the second of its kind to be placed on the battlefield. Following the unveiling, the marker will be transported to the Hill of Death where it will be permanently placed.

The Battlefield Stroll, a one-mile walk through the heart of the battlefield to the Hill of Death, will begin at 10 o’clock. At 11 o’clock, as the group assembles on the Hill of Death, there will be a brief ceremony conducted by Brig. Gen. Parker Hills (Ret.), followed by a living history featuring numerous re-enactors. A tractor-pulled trailer will be available for those who need transportation.

The afternoon events will be held on the grounds of “Matilda’s House” located approximately an eighth of a mile west of the Champion Hill Baptist Church. A lane leading off to the right of the road will be marked with signs or balloons to point the way.

Afternoon events will include: Lunch on the Grounds ($8.00 a plate), book signing by Dr. Timothy Smith, Grady Howell Jr., and Rebecca Drake; living history demonstrations; “Laying of the Flowers” in the Champion Family Cemetery and at the Margie Bearss Memorial; unveiling of a painting Col. Cockrell, CSA, Leading a Charge During the Battle of Champion Hill by Jerry McWilliams, artist; and a gun raffle. The winner of the gun raffle will receive an 1858 (replica) Army Texas .44 Caliber Revolver.

Come and enjoy the ambiance of the day as well as history in the making. Wear comfortable shoes and bring insect repellent for the stroll. Don’t forget to bring your camera and throw in a lawn chair for the afternoon events at “Matilda’s House.”

For further information call 601-953-4755 or visit www.battleofchampionhill.org.

Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, Miss. has posted a video news release (often referred to as a vodcast) of a procedure to help correct extensive pelvic organ prolapse. Pelvic organ prolapse, commonly called “dropped vagina”, is a condition in which one or more of the organs in the pelvic cavity, such as the uterus, vagina, bladder and/or rectum, has fallen below its normal position in the pelvis. To view the procedure visit www.mbhs.org/mednews.

Urogynecologists Robert Harris, MD, and Steven Speights, MD, at Southeast Urogynecology at Women’s Specialty Center in Jackson, Miss. are two of only a select few physicians in the entire southeast performing this minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery known as laparoscopic sacral colpopexy. The minimally invasive procedure requires only four small abdominal incisions, as opposed to making a large incision to open the abdomen. Physicians expand the abdomen by gently pumping gas into the abdominal cavity to improve the visual field. Then, using a device with a small camera attached on the end, a laparoscope, they use small instruments to lift the vagina back up to its natural position by attaching synthetic mesh from the top of the vagina to the ligament overlying the tailbone. The mesh provides the vagina with the right amount of support to keep it in the correct position and is the most sturdy and reliable repair for vaginal prolapse.  The surgery usually takes about an hour to complete.

“By using a laparoscope to suspend the vagina or the cervix to the strong tissues found deep in the pelvis, we avoid the large incision and extended recovery time the traditional surgery requires,” said Dr. Speights. “We have never kept anybody in the hospital for more than one night, and the patient is back to normal activity in about a week.”

Drs. Harris and Speights specialize in the care of women with pelvic support and bladder problems, including urinary incontinence. They have been performing minimally invasive surgery for almost 15 years and have performed over 1000 sacral colpopexies, almost all of which have been via the laparoscopic approach for the past 2 years.

Dr. Harris added, “Vaginal prolapse is a common condition many women do not talk about. Women may be embarrassed to discuss their symptoms with their physicians, and there is a lack of general education. Symptoms of bladder, bowel or sexual dysfunction are frequently present. All these symptoms can have a significant impact on a woman’s quality of life, which deserves attention and effective treatment.”

Pelvic organ prolapse is caused when pelvic muscles are weakened or stretched, sometimes during vaginal childbirth, especially from a difficult labor or delivery, multiple vaginal deliveries and/or large babies. The risk increases nearly 20 percent with each additional vaginal delivery up to five births. Being overweight, having a chronic cough, loss of muscle tone with aging, or having a hysterectomy or other abdominal surgery may also cause these muscles to be weakened. Heredity may play a role in determining who is predisposed toward pelvic organ prolapse. Statistics suggest it occurs more often in women of Northern European and Hispanic descent than in women of African or Asian descent.

In the Women’s Health Initiative study involving more then 27,000 women, 40 % aged 50 to 79 years were found to have some form of pelvic organ prolapse. The symptoms include pelvic heaviness, a bulge or protrusion coming down from the vagina, and a dragging sensation in the vagina.

“The right treatment will depend on the type and degree of prolapse. For those needing surgery, performing this laparoscopically has the advantages of faster post operative recovery, shorter hospital stay and improved quality of life for the patient.”

For more information, contact the Baptist Heath Line at 601-948-6262 or 1-800-948-6262.

About the Southeast Urogynecology at Women’s Specialty Center
Dr. Robert Harris and Dr. Steven Speights are board-certified and are the only specialists in Mississippi who are fellowship-trained in Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic and Vaginal Surgery. Southeast Urogynecology was founded in 1999 and these doctors, as leaders in the field and with more than 20 years combined experience, offer state-of-the art diagnostics and the most advanced treatment options available. This includes performing thousands of complex bladder tests and vaginal reconstruction procedures each year. They also know surgery isn’t always the best choice for treatment. For this reason, they partner with Innovative Pelvic Health to provide a complete non-surgical bladder, bowel, and pelvic muscle rehabilitation directed by nurse practitioners.  Jackie Williams and Mickie Autry, both certified nurse practitioners, have more than 25 years of combined experience in treating women with these problems. They are recognized regionally and nationally as leaders in women’s health and have special training and expertise in the treatment of bladder and bowel incontinence, overactive bladder, pelvic muscle wasting, bladder pain and Interstitial Cystitis.

About Baptist Medical Center
Baptist Health Systems is the parent company of Baptist Medical Center, The Mississippi Hospital for Restorative Care and a number of related healthcare services and programs. For a century, Baptist Medical Center has served Mississippi and the surrounding states as a Christian-based, non-profit comprehensive medical Center. From its beginnings in 1908, Baptist has grown to include a medical center providing comprehensive services for people in every stage of life. The 500+ members of Baptist’s medical staff represent more than 85 medical specialties. In 2002, Baptist opened a Cancer Center, and in 2009, the Cardiovascular Center and Baptist for Women facilities opened.

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For more information contact:
Tupelo Elvis Presley Fan Club
PO Box 856
Tupelo, MS 38802
www.tupeloelvispresleyfanclub.com
tupeloepfans@comcast.net

The Tupelo Elvis Presley Fan Club received approval for an Elvis Presley specialty license plate during the 2008 Mississippi Legislative Session (Senate Bill 2852).  The design was created by Vic Armstrong of Tupelo and was approved by Elvis Presley Enterprises (E.P.E., Inc.)  The pink tag features an image of Elvis over a background image of the birthplace home in Tupelo.  The hometown club will invest the proceeds in Elvis’ name for some of his favorite youth charities.  Club member Wilma White spearheaded the effort to create the tag in hopes that through the sale of the tags, Elvis’ dream of a youth and aquatic center in east Tupelo could be fulfilled.  President Scott Reese, feels that Elvis would be pleased with their charitable efforts, as Elvis always gave freely to those in need.  The club must se11 300 (three hundred) tags by the deadline of May 10th in order to initiate the production of the tag.  The specialty tag is $31.00.  The CREATE Foundation accepted the Elvis Tag as a special project.  (www.createfoundation.com)  Mississippi Elvis fans may request an application and more information by emailing:  tupeloepfans@comcast.net or mailing a request to:  Tupelo Elvis Presley Fan Club  PO Box 856  Tupelo, MS  38802.  An application is also available on the club’s website address at:  www.tupeloelvispresleyfanclub.com

The Tupelo Elvis Presley Fan Club was founded in 1956 with Barbara Mallory as president.  The club was reorganized in 2006 with a mission to “preserve and promote the music, movies, and works of Elvis Presley, to honor Elvis through charity efforts and help grow a new generation of Elvis fans.”

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

High court overturns ruling in Gordon case

Jackson, Miss. – The Louisiana Supreme court late last week overturned a Louisiana appeal court’s decision and reinstated the rulings previously made by the New Orleans City Council in the Gordon proceeding involving Entergy New Orleans, Inc..

The Mississippi attorney general has often publicly cited the Gordon case in his lawsuit against Entergy Mississippi, Inc. and has referred to this case extensively in his reasons for filing the suit against the company.

“We’re pleased with the high court’s decision, and we believe it is the right decision,” said John Mullins, vice president of customer operations for Entergy Mississippi, Inc. “The Court concluded that Entergy acted in good faith and with no intent to harm our customers, just as the City Council had previously concluded.

“Additionally, this decision demonstrates that although the AG tries to act as prosecutor and judge at the same time, mere claims of wrongdoing do not prove wrongdoing in our legal system.”

The Gordon case was based on allegations that Entergy New Orleans, Inc. had overcharged customers. The Council voted to have Entergy refund Louisiana customers $7.2
million (plus $4.1 million in interest). The decision was appealed to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, which increased the amount from $7.2 million to $34.3 million. The Louisiana Supreme Court’s ruling means the original New Orleans City Council decision will stand.
The issue that was the focus of the Louisiana Supreme Court’s decision was a claim by the plaintiffs that Entergy New Orleans had recovered certain costs through its fuel adjustment clause instead of its base rates.  However, the Louisiana Supreme Court concluded that the Council had not found that its rules had been violated, and that even if the Council had found that its rules had been violated, the Council would not have been required to order a refund.

“This fully supports our argument that matters like these should be handled by the proper regulating authority,” said Mullins. “In this case the Supreme Court confirmed the findings of the New Orleans City Council, Entergy New Orleans’ regulators.”

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. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $13 billion and approximately 14,700 employees.
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Entergy Mississippi’s online address is entergy-mississippi.com.

       One of the Midsouth’s longest-running celebrations of the visual and performing arts takes place May 9-10, 2009, when the Cellular South GumTree Festival spreads over the courthouse square in Tupelo, MS.
Some of the South’s finest artists will display their work in the spring sunshine for the 38th staging of the festival.
The festival is one of the few outdoor events of its type in the Midsouth that features a juried exhibition of arts, giving festival goers the rare opportunity to meet artists and actually ask about their creative process.
More than 100 artists will compete for $12,000 in prizes to be awarded by the Cellular South GumTree Festival’s jurors.  This year’s festival jurors are painter Mary Hardy from Ocean Springs, MS and Denny Mecham, director of the George Ohr Museum in Biloxi, MS.
“The arts are more important now than ever,” states director Tina Lutz.  “The festival has a long standing tradition in the region as we welcome new visitors and returning visitors alike.” In addition to the fine arts exhibitors, the festival will feature a Songwriter Showcase, participants of which will perform on a street stage; a Youth Arts Stage on which musicians and dancers from area schools and studios will perform; and a Kids Korner with free art activities for children young and old.  High school seniors from Tupelo and Lee County submit their artwork to compete for scholarships sponsored by the festival. The winning entries are exhibited at the GumTree Museum April 29 – May 10.  A youth writing competition will be conducted in conjunction with Church Street Elementary as part of the festival’s overall arts emphasis.
Sponsors for the Cellular South GumTree Festival include Cellular South, Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau, BancorpSouth, the city of Tupelo, WTVA, WKDH, WLOV, Lee County Board of Supervisors, the GumTree Museum of Art, Coca-Cola, Romie’s Bar-b-que, the Mississippi Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts.