MPA/MPS Press Releases

For Immediate Release
For more information contact:

Robby Channell 601-968-5135 or rchannell@mbhs.org

Jackson, Miss. – May 29, 2009 – Baptist Cancer Services will be celebrating the lives of cancer survivors on National Cancer Survivors Day, Sunday, June 7, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. in the cafeteria of Baptist Hospital.
Barbara Crespino and Cheryl Fowler will be the guest speakers at the event.  Both Crespino and Fowler are cancer survivors from Baptist.  Entertainment will be provided by Lisa Leavell.
This day will mark the 22nd annual National Cancer Survivors Day, the world’s largest and fastest growing cancer survivor event.  This celebration of life will encompass different events held in not only hundreds of communities nationwide, but in Canada and other participating countries.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will provide a chance for cancer survivors; caregivers, family members, friends and healthcare professionals to unite and show that life after a cancer diagnosis can be meaningful and productive.
A cancer survivor is defined by the National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation as anyone living with a history of cancer.  This includes newly diagnosed survivors as well as long-term survivors.  The National Cancer Institute estimates that approximately 10.8 million Americans with a history of cancer were alive in January 2004. Some of these individuals were cancer-free, while others still had evidence of cancer and may have been undergoing treatment.
For more information about Cancer Survivors Day and to register for the event, call the Baptist Health Line at 601.948.6262 or 1-800-948-6262.  Visit www.mbhs.org/mednews to read of some survival stories. Parking for the event will also be available for participants in the Baptist Medical Center parking garage.

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NEW BROODMARE AND FOALING BARN

On June 13th, 2009, DeKalb, Mississippi’s very own Olena Oaks Thoroughbred Farm will hold its groundbreaking ceremony for a new broodmare and foaling barn. The barn’s luxurious, state-of-the-art features will include 14-foot by 14-foot padded stalls and video cameras for off-site monitoring. Business partners Lena McRae and Keith Barnacastle are betting DeKalb’s central location and Olena Oaks’s solid reputation will appeal to thoroughbred owners from Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Florida.
Over the last five years, top horse breeders and racers have taken advantage of the exceptional boarding, lay-ups, and foaling services at Olena Oaks. The premier Mississippi horse farm boasts 165 acres of rolling pasture, fresh water streams, and meadows of thick grass. Amenities include individual grass paddocks, feed pens, corrals and stalls. “This is a great way to provide peace and tranquility for mares,” says Barnacastle. “Like a vacation spot for horses.”
Olena Oaks is owned by Lena McRae, Realtor for United Country Innovative Realty in Meridian, Mississippi and co-owner of L&R Cattle and Land Company, DeKalb, Mississippi. Ms. McRae, previous owner of a thoroughbred farm in Ocala, Florida, relocated to her family farm 6 years ago. Ms. McRae and her cousin Mr. Barnacastle have over 20 years of experience in the thoroughbred industry, including boarding, breeding, training, sales prep and racing thoroughbreds. Good horse sense seems to run in the family. Lena’s daughter, Amy Townsend, consignor-agent, and son, Robert McElroy, owner and trainer of Robert McElroy Stables, Ocala, Florida, consign and or train horses for various sales and racetracks. Their expertise is an added asset to Olena Oaks.
“Our plans are to keep Olena Oaks a family-based business,” says McRae. “Most of all, we keep God first in everything we do.”
With breeding and racing connections in Florida, California, and Kentucky, McRae and Barnacastle have turned Olena Oaks into the ideal environment for breeding, boarding, raising, breaking, and sales preparation. Olena Oaks trainers include the acclaimed Rafael Becerra, Ron Ellis, Bob Baffert, and Doug O’Neill. Jockeys who have ridden for the Olena Oaks Team include Mike Smith, Garrett Gomez, Alex Solis, Jon Court, Cory Nakatani, Tyler Baze, and Joe Talamo.
This past October, Mr. Talamo rode Olena Oaks’s filly Ms. Toomsuba to victory in Santa Anita’s Starter Allowance Race. Talamo called the filly “exceptionally nice” with a “big heart and the will to win.” Ms. Toomsuba is bred to California’s fourth-ranking sire, Benchmark —the same cross as Brother Derek, winner of the Santa Anita Derby, Hollywood Futurity, San Rafael Stakes, and Santa Catalina Stakes.
Other stakes-winning mares are in foal to Orientate (standing at Gainesway Farm, Lexington, KY), Point Given (Three Chimneys Farm, Midway, KY), Benchmark (River Edge Farm, Buellton, CA), Halo’s Image (Bridlewood Farm, Ocala, FL), Roar of the Tiger (Hartley-DeRenzo Farm, Ocala, FL).
Farms such as Gainesway, River Edge, Three Chimneys, Padua, Ballena Vista, Journeyman Stud, Hill N Dale, and Wintergreen Stallion Station (home of Afleet Alex, Candy Ride, Birdstone, Bea Genius, Big Brown, Bertrando, Benchmark, Orientate, and Point Given) all have worked with Olena Oaks.
“I am so excited about our new business endeavor. Keith and I have given this much thought over the years. It just goes to show, wherever there is a dream and a vision, there is also the reality of a dream come true.”
Construction is expected to be complete in 6-8 months.

For more information:
Edwina Carpenter
662-365-3969
bcr@dixie-net.com

Brice’s Crossroads to host 145th anniversary re-enactment

5,000 re-enactors. 1,500 hoop skirts. 400 horses. 35 cannons.
All under the same June sun on the same open battlefield where General Nathan Bedford Forest and Brigadier General Samuel D. Sturgis met 145 years ago.
This June 12-14, Cleburne’s Division of Re-enactors take on the 1400-acre Brice’s Crossroads Battlefield to present two full-scale scripted battles with historically authentic scenarios. On Saturday, June 13 at 2 p.m., they will re-enact the Battle of Brice’s Crossroads as it actually happened and on Sunday, June 14 at 2 p.m. they will play out the Battle of Tupelo on the battlefield property.
Both battles were part of the Federal’s Atlanta Campaign. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman’s plan was to destroy the Confederate army by dissecting the south and occupying Atlanta, GA. while keeping Gen. N.B. Forrest away from his supply lines.
Fought June 10, 1864, Brice’s Crossroads resulted in a decisive victory for Gen. Forrest, however, Gen. A.J. Smith succeeded in beating back Forrest’s charges in the July 14, 1864 Battle of Harrisburg.
Cleburne’s Division of Civil War re-enactors, hosts of the event, promotes education and authenticity through the hobby. They have participated in reenactments across the country with recent successful appearances at the 145th Anniversary Gettysburg and Chickamauga events in 2008.
Cleburne’s contacted officials at Brice’s Crossroads with an interest in hosting a national event with thousands of participants to commemorate the battle’s 145th anniversary. The event will also provide family entertainment and education as well as awareness of our local history.
In addition to realistic battles, an activities tent will host a variety of presentations from sewing and music in the Civil War to maneuvers used in the battle. Spectators will witness the Grand Ball on Saturday night as the battles take second stage to an authentic social event. On Sunday morning, period church services including a dedication and memorial to the soldiers will be held in the activity tent.
“Engineering, medical, and military demonstrations will be set up for spectators and programs will run all day on the hour in the Activity Tent,” said Edwina Carpenter, curator of the center and event organizer.
For children ages 8-13, the weekend starts early with a Civil War Discovery Day at the Brice’s Crossroads’ Battlefield. Children will meet on Friday morning beginning at 10 a.m. at the center. Buses will transport the children to the battlefield where soldiers, dressed in period attire will greet them.
Participants will be invited to visit stations or camps to learn about different aspects of life as a Civil War soldier including music, uniforms, weapons and food. The day wraps up at 1 p.m. when they will be treated to a tasting of camp-fire prepared food before returning to the visitors center at 2 p.m.
Parents and the public are invited and encouraged to attend. The $5 registration fee includes lunch. Registration can be done at www.bricescrossroads.com with Paypal or at the center located at 607 Grisham Street, Baldwyn Tuesday-Saturday, 9 .m.-5 p.m.
Also on Friday at 7:30 p.m., cavalry and infantry will parade the Main Street in Baldwyn with a presentation of Colors, drum corps and troops in full attire.
A reception honoring the Officers and parade participants will be held at 8 p.m. in downtown Azelea Court with a period band and light refreshments.
Spectator parking is available at the crossroads on Highway 833 across from the Bethany A.R. P. church for a charge of $5 per car, per day. Shuttle buses will transport spectators to the battlefield site from the Visitors Center at 607 Grisham Street all day on Saturday and Sunday. Buses will run every 30 minutes to and from the field for $2 per person.
For more information about this event, please contact Edwina Carpenter at 662-365-3969 or bcr@dixie-net.com.

Schedule of Events

Thursday, June 11
Registration for Reenactors begins at 8 a.m.

Friday, June 12
10:00 Children ages 8-13, register for Discovery Day at Visitors Center
10:30 Shuttle to battlefield-visit camps, demonstrations and music
12:30 campfire meal for discovery day participants
1:45 return to museum by shuttle bus, Discovery Day ends
7:30 p.m. Parade of Troops downtown Baldwyn
Drum corps, presentation of Colors, Cavalry
Stores will be open late, view Civil War art in buildings
8:15 p.m. reception, Period music prefomed by “Time Was”
at Azalea Court –Public Invited

Saturday, June 13
Camps open 10-1 and 3-6
9-10 –Civil War Cavalry Competition, mounted and dismounted, at field behind log cabin
Program Schedule for Activity Tent
9-10 C. W. Music Pat Arinder
10 -11 a.m. Ladies Tea and sewing demonstration: Lisa Hamby and Pat Burkhead
11-12 a.m. - Brent Lokey ‘Able Streight Raid’
12-1 Battle of Brice’s Crossroads- David Wilson
2 p.m. *Battle of Brice’s Crossroads reenactment*
3:30-4:30 Chickasaw Chief Tishomingo and his home near Bethany
4:30-5:30 - Roger Hansen –confederate graves
8 p.m. Grand Ball with period music provided by ‘Time Was’ Public Invited

Sunday, June 14
Camps open 11:30-1
Schedule at Activity Tent
10:30-11:30 Period Church Service
11:30-12:30 Battle of Tupelo- Pete Christopher
12:30-1:30 Brent Lokey “ Forrest at Johnsonville”
2 p.m. Battle of Tupelo

For more information contact:

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

Reduction likely through third quarter of 2009

Jackson, Miss.— Due to a continued drop in natural gas prices, customers of Entergy Mississippi, Inc. will see significantly lower electric bills this summer when compared to last.
The utility filed for a routine third quarter fuel adjustment today. If approved by the Mississippi Public Service Commission, the typical residential bill from July through August will be significantly lower from last summer when volatile natural gas prices caused bills to rise some 28 percent.
Based on this adjustment, typical residential customers using 1,000 kilowatt hours a month will pay about $98 for the third quarter of 2009. Last July and August the same amount cost nearly $133; or $35 more.
“This is welcome news during these tough economic times,” said Haley Fisackerly, president and chief executive officer of Entergy Mississippi, Inc. “This continuing drop in fuel prices means our customers will get some relief on their electricity bills during the hottest months of the year.”
“We’re cautiously optimistic that natural gas prices will continue to decrease or at least remain less volatile,” Fisackerly said. “Despite natural gas prices dropping, we’re still facing a national energy crisis and we’re continually working to find solutions that benefit customers and provide long-term stability in our rates.”
Entergy Mississippi’s rates remain among the lowest in the southeast.
Entergy Mississippi uses a diverse fuel mix to generate electricity at the lowest reasonable cost. Natural gas is the utility’s largest fuel source.
Entergy Mississippi makes routine quarterly filings with the Mississippi Public Utilities Staff and the MPSC to recover costs of fuel used to provide electric service to customers. By law, the utility makes no profit on fuel charges.
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.

Social Media Helps Baptist Reach Out to Customers,
Launches the Baptist Medical News Network
(Live Webinar on Pediatric Stomach Issues Held May 19 at www.mbhs.org/mednewslive)

Jackson, Miss. – May 8, 2009 - Baptist has created a new section on its website called “Baptist Medical News Network” at www.mbhs.org/mednews. It’s a place where all press releases, surgical videos, community seminars, employee news and other news regarding Baptist Health Systems can be stored. Eventually, the site will have the capability to allow discussion boards for the various posts.

“We find more and more people searching for health information via the Internet and are working to increase Baptist’s visibility on web search engines such as Google, Yahoo and others,” said Baptist Media Relations Manager Robby Channell. “Our Medical News Network page is a place to store all external communication information. We can upload everything from event photos to videos of medical procedures.”

Launching this section of the website was timely. Baptist recently signed up with Twitter, launched a YouTube channel, and created a Facebook page. Videos are uploaded to iTunes as well. Channell said he is not sure what to expect from embracing social media. “Besides, what is ‘social media’ anyway?” Generally, it’s a set of Internet tools enabling a group of people with common interests to connect with one another to learn, play, work, organize and socialize.

“From our research, social media is where we need to head. It’s an outreach tool. Even though we still want to direct people to our website, we are now putting our information right in front of a customer,” said Channell. “And, it’s people who want to be our customer because they sign up to be our friend, fan, member, or follower. It is our intent to not only connect with our existing customers, but connect to new and younger people who are interested in their health.”

Baptist started by launching Women’s Health Inside Out weekly podcast series in November 2006 with 157 listeners. In April 2009, there were 903 listeners.

“This was something unique we wanted to try since we were opening a new women’s facility and rebranding our women’s services,” explained Channell. “It was just the tip of the iceberg where we focused on audio interviews with clinicians and then dabbled into video podcasts known as vodcasts. Now, we are uploading surgical procedures to YouTube as well.”

Now, Baptist is hosting live webinars. Baptist Public Relations Coordinator Rhonda McRae interviewed Baptist Nutrition Manager Amy Dent, RD, LD, on how to get ready for swimsuit season for its first live webinar on April 23, 2009. Approximately 20 people tuned in to view and listen over their computer.

“This is something new for Baptist we wanted to test. A key feature of a webinar is its interactive elements,” added Channell. “It’s the ability to give, receive and discuss information in real time. People can email questions during the live broadcast.”

The next live webinar will be May 19, 2009, featuring Pediatric Gastroenterologist April Ulmer, MD, discussing common digestive issues for infants, children and teenagers. To view, visit www.mbhs.org/mednewslive at 12:15 pm central standard time.

Baptist is still delivering health information the traditional way by distributing press releases and ads to television, newspapers, radio and magazines. It’s just new tools Baptist is using to connect with healthcare consumers searching for health information online.

“I come in to the office with my cup of coffee focusing on the topic I need to ‘tweet’ about for the day. What does Baptist need to communicate to its Facebook fans? Then, which surgical procedure can we upload to YouTube?” Channell concluded. “I wake up wondering how to use the World Wide Web to let people know  Baptist is a resource for wellness and staying healthy.”

For more information, visit www.mbhs.org/mednews. Search for Baptist Health Systems on Facebook. Other social media site direct links are

http://twitter.com/baptistmednews

http://www.youtube.com/baptistmednews

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Schedule of Events for Bay BridgeFest, 2009
Saturday, May 16th

For more information
Contact Donna Yowell, Executive Director
Mississippi Urban Forest Council
Phone: 601-672-0755
E-mail: dyowell@aol.com

Social Impacts of Greening Your Home, Business or Community,

The Mississippi Urban Forest Council will be hosting their 19th Annual Conference in Ridgeland, May 27, 28 and 29, 2009, at Ridgeland High School.  This will be a great opportunity for citizens from around the state to learn more about greening your life, property and community.

This conference will offer workshops and lectures that will teach you how to improve home sites, business sites and places throughout your community with better management of natural resources and community forestry.

Workshops include quality site development, reducing crime, greening transportation, carbon footprints, social benefits of green spaces, eco-system management, even linking green spaces.  You will see model examples of rural and urban forestry from around the country.

Citizens attending the workshops can become certified as an Urban Forester Master, similar to the Master Gardeners of your community.

A special workshop will be held for developers, builders and others on the topic of Site Development, with the newest information on quality development..

“This one you will not want to miss,” Mayor Gene McGee. The 19th annual urban forestry conference will provide the most advanced “Greening” education, principals and projects in the country with leading national speakers.  The focus of this year’s conference will be the positive social impacts of greening your community and how to benefit from green transportation corridors. The conference will feature five national experts.    The Mississippi Forestry Commission, City of Ridgeland, Ms State Extension Service, and the US Forest Service will join us to bring you these exciting programs.

All events will be held at the Ridgeland High School on Sunnybrook Road, in Ridgeland, MS.

May 27th, 2009 – Two workshops are offered:  Site Development and Community Forestry 101
May 28th & 29th, 2009 – Conference focusing on the Social Impacts of ‘Greening’ your community, business or home and natural resource corridors, green transportation and much more.

To register for any of these events please see the MS Urban Forest Council at www.msurbanforest.com or request a registration form at dyowell@aol.com or 601-672-0755.