MPA/MPS Press Releases

Two of the most prestigious honors given during the annual CAI designation classes are the Rose Award and Pat Massart Award.

The NAA presented the awards to Auctioneers Buddy Lee and Ruthie Taylor, respectively, during the opening session of CAI 2010 on March 21. CAI classes kicked off this week on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington.

The Rose Award honors the contestant with the best auction summary, which participants in CAI III are required to complete in order to earn their CAI designations. Lee was joined in the finals by these NAA Auctioneers:

Tirhani Mabunda, AARE, Tirhani Auctioneers, South Africa
Megan McCurdy, BAS, McCurdy Auction LLC, Wichita, Kan.
Braden McCurdy, McCurdy Auction LLC, Wichita, Kan.
Bobby Ewald, AARE, CES, Ewald Enterprises Inc. Dba Ewald Auction & Realty, Orlando, Fla.
Bill Dollinger, AARE, RE/MAX 100 Inc, Louisville, Ky.
The Pat Massart Award honors the CAI II contestant with the best auction proposal, which is required of CAI II students. Taylor of Taylor Auction & Realty Inc., Grenada, Miss., was joined in the finals by these NAA Auctioneers:

Warren Ward, AARE, Albert Burney Inc., Gadsden, Ala.
Jodi Reynolds, Aumann Auctions Inc., Nokomis, Ill.

PRESS RELEASE:
Contact:
Erin Hern
601-994-4482 (cell)
P. O. Box 1144
Vicksburg, MS 39181
riverfestms@yahoo.com
601-634-4527 (Main Street Office)

23rd Annual Riverfest Festival Presents “Jammin’ on the River”
VICKSBURG, MISS. (March 2010): The 23rd Annual Riverfest “Jammin’ on the River” will be in historic downtown Vicksburg April 16 and 17.
Rising country star Jason Michael Carroll headlines Friday night’s musical lineup and Memphis R & B singer J. Blackfoot will headline Saturday night. Carroll’s hits include “Alyssa Lies,” “Living Our Love Song,” and “Where I’m From.” J. Blackfoot was the lead singer of the Soul Children, the Memphis-based group that scored 15 R & B hits between 1968 and 1978. J. Blackfoot launched his solo career with the single “Taxi” which climbed to the R & B Top Ten in 1984.
Nine bands will be featured on stage over the Riverfest weekend. Friday night’s lineup includes King Edward at 6 p.m., The Chill at 7:05 p.m., Reid Stone and the Guilt Ridden Troubadour at 8:10 p.m., The Tip Tops at 9:15 p.m., and Jason Michael Carroll at 10:45 p.m.
Saturday night’s lineup includes Mayhem String Band at 6 p.m., Rocket 88 at 7:05 p.m., Jimbo Mathus at 8:10 p.m., J. Blackfoot at 9:15 p.m., and Blue Mountain at 10:45 p.m.
The Riverfest committee’s goal this year is to promote Mississippi musicians and bring a variety of different types of music to the festival. This year’s theme “Jammin’ on the River” helps bring together all genres of music.
“This year we have a great entertainment committee who has worked very hard to bring a wide range of musical genres to Vicksburg,” said Erin Hern, Riverfest committee president. “We also tried to get a few entertainers with ties to Mississippi and Vicksburg.”
Saturday daytime events include the 42nd Annual Vicksburg-Warren Riverfest Arts & Crafts Show from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. in historic downtown. The goal of the show is to offer a “quality festival with handcrafted arts and crafts.” The festival is free to the public and includes arts and crafts vendors and food booths on Walnut, South, and Crawford streets.
“It’s a great way to get out and see what the people in the region have to offer,” said Katie Ferrell, secretary of the Riverfest Committee and head of the Arts and Crafts Festival. “The event is great for all ages and is a huge part of Riverfest weekend. We have 75 vendors signed up now and expect to have 100 this year” Vendor applications are still being accepted.
Other downtown events include Walk MS, CPC Walk for Life, and GospelFest. Food, entertainment, and Riverfest activities along Washington Street begin at 10 a.m. Street performers, sidewalk sales, a wood carving demonstration, children’s activities, and much more will be included in the free daytime activities.
Events around town in conjunction with Riverfest include The Vicksburg Cruisers Red Carpet Classic Auto Show at Blackburn Motor Company and the BluzCruz Canoe & Kayak Race.
Riverfest tickets can be picked up at the Main Street Program’s office at 1309 Washington Street and are also available online at www.riverfestms.com until April 15. Nightly tickets are $15 and a weekend pass is $25. Information on all events can be found at www.visitvicksburg.com.

March 15, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT BEVIN HUNTER
(202) 434-4872
bhunter@dra.gov
Delta Regional Authority schedules annual conference for St. Louis
“Federal Resources and You”
John Fernandez, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, will be a
keynote speaker at the Delta Regional Authority’s (DRA) annual conference in St. Louis on April
14. In his position at EDA, Secretary Fernandez is charged with leading the nation’s economic
development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, and in doing so preparing
America’s regions for growth and success in the global economy. Secretary Fernandez will speak
about these new initiatives and EDA’s upcoming funding opportunities.
“Federal Resources and You” is this year’s conference theme. As DRA Federal Co-Chairman
Pete Johnson said, “As tough as this economy is, federal resources are more important than ever.
The DRA works hard to match-up other federal funders to our communities, and that is the sole
purpose of this conference — these federal agencies are coming to St. Louis to best help our communities
get the resources they need to solve the problems they have.”
As always, DRA’s conference is free to attendees and always attracts several hundred business
and community leaders. Accordingly, seating is limited — DRA urges those interested to register
online (www.dra.gov) as soon as possible.
“With the economy being in the shape it is, we are especially pleased to continue our policy of
a “free conference”. We thank our great partner, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which has
again joined us in support of this important effort,” Chairman Johnson continued.
Three other keynote speakers include:
Bill Hagy, as Special Assistant to Secretary Tom Vilsack, U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA), provides support to the Secretary on policy matters relating to alternative energy
development and provides organizational leadership for various boards and committees including
the Biomass Research and Development Board and Technical Advisory Committee. Mr. Hagy
will speak on “Administration Initiatives on Energy Development and USDA Contributions”
(USDA grant opportunities).
Delta Regional Authority
236 Sharkey Ave. / Suite 400
Clarksdale, MS 38614 NEWS
St. Louis resident and nationally recognized expert on leadership development, Eric Greitens, former
Navy SEAL, Rhodes Scholar, Draper Richard Fellow, founder of The Mission Continues, will
be the luncheon speaker on April 14th.
From the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Defense, U.S. Navy Captain Karen Trueblood is the Director
of the Pentagon’s Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) program. The IRT program provides
real-world, medical-training opportunities for our service members and does so in communities
around the country — including the DRA region. In fact, last summer, more than 1,600 DRA
residents received free medical care through the IRT program. Currently, Captain Trueblood is
coordinating additional health services for DRA communities, and she will explain how other
DRA communities can receive these free health benefits from her program, as well.
The Delta Regional Authority is one the President’s 75 executive agencies and is by statute a
federal-state partnership that serves parts of Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. The board consists of the governors of the eight states and
the federal co-chairman, Pete Johnson, who is appointed by the President.
The Authority operates a number of highly successful programs in its eight-state service area, and
one of these programs is its federal grant program, which allows cities, counties and non-profit
entities to leverage public and private funding for a wide range of projects.
In its first eight years, DRA has leveraged $74.5 million in federal appropriations into almost $2
billion in public and private investment — a leverage ratio of more than 25 to 1.
The outcomes from DRA’s program are exemplary, as DRA is partnering to:
• Create and retain more than 34,000 jobs,
• Provide new water and/or sewer to almost 35,000 families and
• Train more 3,900 individuals for jobs already committed to the Authority.
Again:
• conference registration is free
• online registration at www.dra.gov
• to be held at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch April 14

The Cleveland Current, a Sunday newspaper based in Cleveland, Miss that
serves Cleveland and Bolivar County, has reached the one year mark in
publishing.

“We are extremely thankful to our readers and advertisers for allowing us to
reach this milestone,” says Scott Coopwood, owner and publisher of The
Cleveland Current. Coopwood is also the owner and publisher of the Delta
Business Journal, Delta Magazine, and the The Oxford Enterprise, Coopwood’s
other Sunday morning newspaper.

The inaugural issue of The Cleveland Current was distributed on March 8,
2009 to over 12,000 households in Bolivar County. The special one year
anniversary edition was published Sunday, March 7. Over 10,000 copies were
printed and distributed to homes and news stands in Bolivar County
celebrating the one year mark.

“The Cleveland Current highlights the positive aspects of life in Cleveland
and Bolivar County while at the same time remaining fearless in providing
relevant editorial coverage important to the growth of the area,” says
editor Michael Simmons. “The editorial scope of The Cleveland Current
encompasses news articles of substance such as city and local news with
designated sections including: News, Sports, Lifestyles, Outdoors, Business,
Farm, Guest Commentaries, Letters to the Editor, and editorials related to
the Cleveland and Bolivar County community. Periodically, we also publish
special reports and special focus sections dedicated to the improvement of
Cleveland and Bolivar County.”

For more information about The Cleveland Current, please contact Editor,
Michael Simmons at (662) 843-2700 or visit their web site
atwww.theclevelandcurrent.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 19, 2010

CABOT LODGE MILLSAPS

NAMES NEW DIRECTOR OF SALES

James McLeod was recently named director of sales for the Cabot Lodge Millsaps property located on North State in Jackson.  The announcement was made by Ronnie Roe, General Manager of the 173 room property.  McLeod served as the sales manager at the Cabot Lodge-Jackson North prior to accepting this new position.  His primary duties include achieving hotel revenue, profit and customer satisfaction goals by developing and implementing successful sales strategies, account management, business development and team leadership.   

McLeod, a native of Brandon, earned a Bacholar of Arts degree in Jouralism from the University of Mississippi in 2006

For Immediate Release Contact: Laura Vinton or Scot Slay
March 19, 2010 Phone: (228) 563-6583 (601) 944-4175
Email: lvinton@ecd.org sslay@ecd.org
Assistance Available to Jackson Area Homeowners Facing Foreclosure
ECD Offers Free Foreclosure Prevention Workshops
Jackson, MS – The foreclosure crisis continues to affect thousands of Mississippians who are
struggling in the current economy. Often, families lose their homes because they don’t know
where to turn for assistance or because they are overwhelmed by the obstacles they face. As
part of its ongoing foreclosure prevention program, ECD/HOPE (Enterprise Corporation of the
Delta/Hope Community Credit Union) is offering two free workshop in Jackson to help people
who are at risk of losing their homes keep their residence.
These free educational events are open to the public and will provide general information about
foreclosure issues, an overview of foreclosure prevention services, and offer attendees an
opportunity to schedule appointments with certified foreclosure prevention specialists. Anyone
who is concerned about a pending foreclosure, behind on their mortgage, or simply worried
about the complexities and financial burden of homeownership is encouraged to attend these
events on March 27, 2010.
Anderson United Methodist Church
Fellowship Hall
9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
6205 Hanging Moss Road
Jackson, MS
New Horizon Church International
Youth Liturgy Room
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
1770 Ellis Avenue
Jackson, MS
“We want everyone to build homeownership on a rock-solid foundation and to be able to keep
their homes for the long term,” said Laura Vinton, ECD Senior Vice President. “It can be difficult
to face the threat of foreclosure, but the earlier financially distressed homeowners reach out for
assistance, the more options they have to address their mortgage issues and potentially avoid
foreclosure.”
ECD/HOPE established counseling services in the region after Hurricane Katrina. The
organization has assisted more than 9,000 people who needed help rebuilding after the storm.
That experience has been important to extending services to people across the state who are
dealing with foreclosure issues.
Industry studies show the foreclosure rate on mortgage loans has increased nationwide by more
than 50 percent since 2000. Five of the ten Mississippi zip codes that have the highest risk of
foreclosures are in the metro Jackson area.
Over the past few years, property values steadily increased while interest rates remained near
historic lows, and many people rushed into homeownership after being taken advantage of by
predatory and sub-prime lenders offering inappropriate loan products. Many of these loans
were responsible for getting people into homes with short-term benefits, but saddled borrowers
with significantly increased monthly payments as interest rates skyrocketed. Additionally, many
Mississippi families face additional burdens related to the current economic crisis, such as the
loss of a job, a reduction in income, or a health emergency.
While there is no one reason that can explain why homeowners are facing foreclosure at an
increasing rate, the surest way out is to ask for help.
Unfortunately, more than half of homeowners facing foreclosure do not seek assistance when
they begin to fall behind on their payments, according to industry studies. However, the early
stages of delinquency are the most crucial – the same studies show that homeowners who take
action when they are only one or two payments behind are more likely to keep their homes than
those who have fallen further behind on their payment schedule.
Many borrowers may be hesitant to call their lending institution because of embarrassment,
fear, or lack of trust or knowledge about the process. Working with a certified ECD/HOPE
counselor may help alleviate this anxiety because they can serve as mediator between the
borrower and lender.
Homeowners who are having trouble making their mortgage payments are encouraged to
contact ECD/HOPE toll-free at 1-888-246-6314 to receive assistance from foreclosure
prevention specialists who have been certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) and NeighborWorks® America.
With the help of a counselor, a homeowner can work with his or her lender to develop a
reasonable action plan that will offer relief to the borrower. Lenders are often willing to work
with a borrower to put a family back on a stable financial footing.
ECD/HOPE can deploy a range of services to help at-risk homeowners, including one-on-one
counseling, bridge loans to help borrowers falling behind on payments, options for refinancing
mortgages, and rehab loans for repairs and maintenance.
###
ECD/HOPE Overview
ECD/HOPE (Enterprise Corporation of the Delta/Hope Community Credit Union) is a regional
financial institution, intermediary and policy center dedicated to strengthening communities,
building assets and improving lives in economically distressed areas in Arkansas, Louisiana,
Mississippi and Tennessee. ECD/HOPE provides affordable financial products and related
services; leverages private, public and philanthropic resources; and engages in policy analysis
for the purpose of addressing development hurdles facing low-wealth people and communities.
Through ECD/HOPE’s efforts, over $1.4 billion in financing has been provided to entrepreneurs,
homebuyers and community development projects, benefiting more than 71,000 individuals in
the Delta, Katrina-affected areas and other distressed communities throughout the Mid South.

PRESS RELEASE:
Contact:
Laura Beth Lyons
Vicksburg Convention & Visitors Bureau
3300 Clay Street/P.O. Box 110
Vicksburg, MS 39181
601-636-9421
601-636-9475 (fax)

Warren County Hosts National Retriever Club Championship Stake

VICKSBURG, MISS. (March 2010): The 2010 National Retriever Club Championship Stake sponsored by the National Retriever Club and the Vicksburg Convention & Visitors Bureau will be held in Warren County from November 14-20. An estimated 100 dogs from different retriever breeds will be competing in 10 different tests.
Dr. Joseph Broyles, Field Trial Chairman, said that the National Retriever Club Championship Stake is held each November alternating time zones. Broyles said that they are excited to bring the championship to the Vicksburg area. “This is a two week long event with pre-national training one week and the trial itself November 14-20,” said Broyles. “The National Retriever Club is excited to come to Vicksburg with its many attractions, fine dining, and long history of outdoor activities and hunting. The sporting public is invited to watch our event on Ronnie and Randy Lampkin’s private pastoral property off Hwy 27.”
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Lee Jolley, president of the National Retriever Club. “I have been trying to bring the NRC to the area since 2001.” Vicksburg was an easy choice for deciding on a place for the NRC Championship. Jolley said that Vicksburg’s infrastructure and favorable weather conditions played a huge factor in the final decision.

The championship is an American Kennel Club licensed event and follows the AKC rules. The quality of the dogs are “the cream of the crop.” “The quality of the dogs is of the best breeding stock,” Jolley said. “These are the most highly trained dogs in the United States. The National Retriever Club Championship is such a unique event because of the caliber of retrievers all in one place. They range in breed from Labrador and Golden Retrievers to Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.”

Competitors will arrive several days in advance to start training the dogs to the area. Training fields throughout the region will be used during the event. Early arrivals are expected to start coming into the city around November 9. By November 13 and 14, around 300 people from across the country representing the vast majority of the states will be pouring into Vicksburg.

The event is open to the public and welcomes professionals and amateurs to compete. For more information contact the Vicksburg Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-866-822-6338 or visit http://www.visitvicksburg.com/ or http://www.working-retriever.com/nrc/.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

To all LSU fans, friends, supporters, donors and TIGER “well wishers” in the State of Mississippi.

The BAYOU BENGAL BOOSTER CLUB OF MISSISSIPPI, INC. in Jackson, Miss. regrets to have to announce that we will not be sponsoring the 2010 TIGER TOUR EVENT to be held on June 1, 2010 in Jackson, MS. Our Club has hosted any and all LSU Events in the Jackson Area for over the past 30 years with the exception of 2009 when TAF chose not to come here.

To our dismay TAF has chosen to allow the JACKSON TOUCHDOWN CLUB to handle our LSU Athletic Event affairs. This caught us by total surprise. If you are not familiar with the Jackson Touchdown Club then you need to go on their web site,
(www.JacksonTouchdownClub.Com) and determine for yourself if this group has the best interest of LSU in such matters like this.

Their membership is made up of Ole Miss, Miss State, USM, Jackson State, Alcorn and a sprinkling of other schools/Universities. Would you even dare believe that one of these institutions would, give the slightest thought of soliciting LSU to handle one of their Athletic Events in their behalf?

There was an unprecedented choice made, that we naturally don’t agree with. We want the entire LSU Family in the State of Mississippi to know about what has happened to us!

If you would like to share your thoughts and concerns you may address them to THE BAYOU BENGAL BOOSTER CLUB OF MISSISSIPI, INC. and mail them to P. O. Box 12654, Jackson, Miss. 39236.

Your responses will be greatly appreciated.

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

For Immediate Release For more information, please contact Ken Malone
March 10, 2010 at ken.malone@ablitech.com or (601) 466-7050

Media Release

Hattiesburg’s Ablitech, Grows into the Garden

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

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

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

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

About Ablitech

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