The Mississippi Business Journal back issues from December 2003:
Successful investigatory interviews hinge on sound, and legal, policies; questioning workers often a critical part of the job.(Focus Insurance & Employee Benefits)
Dec 01, 2003; ... Employers seeking successful and lawful investigator interviews should have an investigative routine that outlines the scope, confidentiality and policy for situations involving an employee's actions. "Demonstrated mastery of routine ... inspires confidence," said Charlie ...
Rates low, activity high for builders: new home sales setting records around the state.
Dec 01, 2003; ... New home sales in the U.S. were the third-highest ever recorded in September, and sales of previously owned homes hit an all time high--the third month in a row that record high sales were recorded. The strong housing market is being credited with helping spur a nationwide ...
WLBT's cameras still rolling half-century later.(WLBT-TV)
Dec 01, 2003; ... JACKSON -- In December 1953, a new NBC-affiliated television station, using the call letters WJDT, went on the air. Though it was only the third television station in Mississippi to begin broadcasting (the other two also began airing in 1953), there is little documentation of the ...
$35-million tank range under construction at Camp Shelby.
Dec 01, 2003; ... FORREST COUNTY -- Since it was first activated 86 years ago, the sounds of soldiers training with rifles, machine guns and tanks that spread out across the tail pine forests and gently rolling grassland at Camp Shelby have often been mixed with the sounds of construction. In ...
Bright sun is finally shining on our economy.(As I See It)(Column)
Dec 01, 2003; ... Our economy is finally beginning to pick up steam. We have been plagued by false starts and set backs aplenty over the past couple of years but the sun is coming out now and things are getting better. The unprecedented boom of the 1990s got some of us spoiled into thinking it ...
Big difference between big, small business.(Great Expectations)(Column)
Dec 01, 2003; ... Our field of reference--how we view the world and feel about things--is determined by our experiences, knowledge and, to some degree, our intellect. If we view the same situation as others and have different opinions, it is because we have a different field of reference. A ...
To-do list: plan your company's legislative agenda.(At Issue)
Dec 01, 2003; ... Now that the 2003 general election is over, there is one thing about which we can all agree: the 2004 legislative session, which convenes in January, promises to be challenging--perhaps one of the most challenging in recent history. Several issues that resonated with the ...
M&F Bank.(People to Watch)(Debbie Sigman and Charles R. "Randy" McCormack join staff )(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003 ... Debbie Sigman has joined M&F Bank in Clinton as vice president of the cash management division. Sigman, a graduate of the University of Memphis, is a CPA Sigman with over 20 years of experience in the financial industry ....
Hazclean Environmental Consultants Inc.(People to Watch)(hired Michael P. Collins, PE as branch manager of the Ruston, Louisiana, office)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003 ... HAZCLEAN is proud to announce the hiring of Michael P. Collins, PE. as branch manager of the Ruston, La., office. Collins is a professional engineer with a master's degree in chemical ...
Scott, Sullivan, Streetman & Fox, P.C.(People to Watch)(new name of Clark & Scott, P.C.)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003 ... The Birmingham, Ala.-based law firm Clark & Scott, P.C., which has a Jackson office, recently changed its name to Scott, Sullivan, Streetman & ...
Delta Southern Bank president and CEO George Purcell and bank vice president Robert Simpson present a $33,000 check to Steve Shurden, president of Drew Enterprises Inc., a non-profit development arm of the Drew Chamber of Commerce.(People to Watch)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Delta Southern Bank president and CEO George Purcell (r) and bank vice president Robert Simpson (l) present a $33,000 check to Steve Shurden, president of Drew Enterprises Inc., a non-profit development ...
Forge Consulting, LLC.(People to Watch)(Ted Gibson joined staff)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003 ... Structured settlement firm Forge Consulting, LLC, announced Ted Gibson has joined the team to manage Forge's Jackson office. Prior to joining Forge, Gibson managed his own settlement consulting company. He ...
KPMG, LLP.(People to Watch)(Ashley E. Willson, CPA, of KPMG's Jackson, Mississippi, office has been made a partner )(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003 ... Ashley E. Willson, CPA, of KPMG's Jackson office has been made a partner in the firm. Willson joined KPMG in 1991. She provides assurance services to ...
Mississippi State Hospital (MSH).(People to Watch)(named Raymond Johnson the October 2003 Employee of the Month in licensed clinical services)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003 ... Raymond Johnson of Jackson has been named the October 2003 Employee of the Month in licensed clinical services at MSH. Johnson is a psychologist who has ...
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz.(People to Watch)(David Maron, Jon Seawright)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003 ... Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz received 18 national appointments in the American Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division (YLD). Two of the appointments were Jackson attorneys David Maron and Jon Seawright. Maron is the ...
U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Cantor (ERDC).(People to Watch)(Dr. James Houston)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003 ... Dr. James Houston, director of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg, has been named the recipient of the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association's (ASBPA) 2003 Morrough P. O'Brien Award. Houston ...
Union Planters Bank.(People to Watch)(Carolyn (C. J.) Tennant)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003 ... Carolyn (C.J.) Tennant, vice president and trade finance specialist with Union Planters in Gulfport, has been appointed by the United States Secretary of Commerce to serve on the Mississippi District Export Council (DEC). Tennant works the entire state assisting companies by ...
Tunica RiverPark.(People to Watch)(Margaret McNutt)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003 ... Margaret McNutt, who has worked as a museum professional for 18 years, has joined the new Tunica RiverPark on the Mississippi River as museum curator. McNutt was previously assistant curator for Wonders: The Memphis ...
U.S. NetworX.(People to Watch)(Jack Graugnard)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003 ... Jack Graugnard recently joined the U.S. NetworX sales team as an account executive. Graugnard graduated from Louisiana ...
Study finds Mississippians most unhealthy in nation.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003; ... The United Health Foundation, together with the American Public Health Association (APHA) and the Partnership fox" Prevention, has released America's Health: State Health Rankings 2003 Edition. Mississippi ranks last in the nation. In this year's rankings, Minnesota and New ...
Isle of Capri makes project proposals.(Strictly Business)(Isle of Capri Casinos Inc.,)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003; ... BILOXI -- Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISLE) officials have responded to requests for proposals issued by St. Louis, Mo., and St. Louis County. The two proposals total $434 million. The proposal for the City of St. Louis totals approximately $267 million, which includes ...
GST to de-register stock.(Strictly Business)(Global Seafood Technologies Inc.)
Dec 01, 2003; ... BILOXI -- The seafood processing company Global Seafood Technologies Inc. (OTCBB: GSFT) has filed Form 15 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to de-register its common stock and suspend its reporting obligations. The company said it expects that the de-registration will ...
Hamlin breaks ground.(Strictly Business)(Hamlin Sheet Metal Company Inc.)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003; ... GREENWOOD -- A groundbreaking ceremony for Hamlin Sheet Metal Company Inc. was held recently in this Delta city. The company's newest facility will be located in the Greenwood-Leflore Industrial Park and is expected to open in March 2004. Hamlin will manufacture spiral ductwork ...
Packaging Dynamics buying plant in Iuka.(Strictly Business)(Iuka Lamination Division)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003; ... IUKA -- Packaging Dynamics Corporation (NASDAQ: PKDY) has executed a definitive agreement to acquire the Iuka Lamination Division of Ormet Corporation. The transaction, which is subject to certain closing conditions, will be an all-cash deal worth approximately $5 million and is expected ...
MSU hosting insurance institute.(Strictly Business)(Mississippi State University)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003; ... STARKVILLE -- Mississippi State University's (MSU's) College of Business and Industry is offering the university's first Insurance Education Summer Institute, to be held on campus next year. "The course is designed for educators who teach insurance either as a specific course or ...
Genesis buys CO2 from Denbury.(Strictly Business)(Genesis Energy L.P.,)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003; ... Genesis Energy, L.P., has completed the previously announced acquisition of an interest in 167.5 Bcf of carbon dioxide (CO2) under a volumetric production payment, plus certain marketing rights, from Denbury Resources Inc. This acquisition will enable Genesis to commence a ...
BancorpSouth gift card.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003; ... TUPELO -- BancorpSouth Inc. is now offering the BancorpSouth prepaid MasterCard Gift Card. This is among the first bank-issued stored-value gift cards in BancorpSouth's six-state regional market to carry no card fee for loading money, or added charges for shipping and handling. ...
AT&T Wireless gets fast.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003; ... AT&T Wireless is now offering what it says is the fastest national mobile wireless data service in North America, called EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution). EDGE service is now available nationally to customers located in areas served by the AT&T Wireless GSM/GPRS ...
Shaw signs contract.(Strictly Business)(Shaw Group Inc.)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003; ... BATON ROUGE, LA. -- The Shaw Group Inc. (NYSE:SGR) has received approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts in the Southern District of New York and in Jackson for the settlement of claims related to the cancellation of the LSP-Pike Energy, LLC ("Pike") power plant project in Mississippi. ...
Fitch rates 'Nissan' bonds.(Strictly Business)
Dec 01, 2003; ... Fitch Ratings has assigned a rating of "AA/F1+" to the $240-million State of Mississippi's taxable variable-rate general obligation bonds (Nissan North America, Inc. Project) consisting of $140-million series 2003A and $140-million series 2003B. The "AA" long-term component of ...
Boyd gets StealthWatch.(Strictly Business)(StealthWatch Management Console to provide network and security operations)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003; ... ROBINSONVILLE -- Boyd Gaming Corporation has selected Lancope Inc.'s StealthWatch and the StealthWatch Management Console to provide network and security operations for Boyd's network, which supports nearly 1,000 hosts and more than 14,000 employees across 13 properties in Mississippi, ...
Southern LINC offering 'Recharge'.(Strictly Business)(Recharge is the first prepaid wireless service)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003; ... ATLANTA -- Southern LINC, the wireless communications service of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), has launched Recharge. According to Southern LINC, Recharge is the first prepaid wireless service designed specifically for business users, and the company is the first wireless provider in the ...
State ranks high on small business index.(Strictly Business)
Dec 01, 2003; ... Mississippi ranks in the top 10 of the friendliest business atmospheres for small businesses, according to the "Small Business Survival Index 2003." The ranking is published by the Small Business Survival Committee (SBSC), a Washington-based non-partisan, nonprofit small business advocacy ...
Australian Court Works signs contract for Texas.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003; ... BRANDON -- BP International Inc. (BPI) has signed new contracts for its privacy and windscreen products. The combined value of these contracts is approximately $30,000, according to Larry Ball, BPI CEO. Australian Court Works of Mississippi purchased black VCP windscreen to ...
Baptist installs HotSpots.(Baptist Medical Center)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003; ... JACKSON -- Baptist Medical Center has established HotSpots in the lobby of the hospital and on the labor and delivery floor. Patients, visitors and vendors can connect to the Internet using the wireless networking interface on their own laptops, PDAs or tablet computers. To use ...
Hibernia launches new service for health care.(Strictly Business)(E-Healthcare Solutions)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003; ... NEW ORLEANS -- Hibernia National Bank has kicked off a new service called e Healthcare Solutions designed to help streamline the processing of health care receivables. E-Healthcare Solutions is a suite of solutions that allows hospitals, health care systems and providers to ...
S&P rates St. Paul.(Strictly Business)(Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, St. Paul Travelers Cos.)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003; ... JACKSON -- Standard & Poor's Ratings Services (S&P) has placed it "BBB+" counterparty credit and debt ratings on the St. Paul Companies Inc., which includes USF&G Insurance Company of Mississippi, and its "A+" counterparty credit and financial strength ratings on St. Paul's insurance ...
Accreditation granted.(The American College of Radiology (ACR) has awarded Wesley Place, a service of Wesley Medical Center, a three-year term of accreditation in mammography)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003; ... HATTIESBURG -- The American College of Radiology (ACR) has awarded Wesley Place, a service of Wesley Medical Center, a three-year term of accreditation in mammography as a result of a recent survey. The ACR, headquartered in Reston, Va., awards accreditation to facilities for ...
Nissan seeking grantees.(Strictly Business)(Nissan Foundation)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003; ... CANTON -- The Nissan Foundation, a charitable giving arm of Nissan North America Inc., is currently seeking grantees for its 2004 grant year. Non-profit organizations in Central Mississippi, South California, North Central Texas and Central Tennessee with projects that support the ...
Value Line ready to ramp up production in Leakesville: number of jobs expected to climb in early 2004.(Value Line Company)
Dec 01, 2003; ... LEAKESVILLE -- When Peavey Electronics closed its manufacturing plant here earlier this year, it was a big blow to a small town located in a rural South Mississippi county with a high unemployment rate. But it turned out that the building, owned by the Greene County Board of Supervisors, ...
Huff Industries in Corinth comes off smelling like a rose.(Huff Industries)
Dec 01, 2003; ... CORINTH -- Huff Industries must be the best smelling manufacturer in the state. "We just make scents!" is the trademark of Huff Industries, which manufactures air freshener products such as Vacuum Magic. The family-owned business started with owners Bill and Rachel ...
Reform remains big issue in malpractice insurance market: Mississippi doctors propose solutions to improve situation.(Focus Insurance & Employee Benefits)
Dec 01, 2003; ... Mississippi doctors, staunch supporters of additional tort reform, have a proposal for state lawmakers they believe will help alleviate the current medical malpractice insurance situation. The Medical Liability Reform Proposal, drafted by the Mississippi State Medical ...
George Dale ready for four more years--once again.(A Mississippi Business Journal Q&A)(Interview)
Dec 01, 2003; ... On November 4, state insurance commissioner George Dale, the longest-serving state insurance commissioner in the nation, was re-elected to an eighth consecutive term. With 31 new state insurance commissioners taking office since January 1, Dale is the elder statesman, receiving inquiries ...
Housekeeping items, more tort reform expected in session. insurance leaders discuss 2004 legislative agenda.(Focus Insurance & Employee Benefits)
Dec 01, 2003; ... Some housekeeping items with little major significance and additional tort reform top the insurance industry's legislative agenda in 2004. But not much can be discussed with legislators until Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck, who was re-elected in November, and the new House Speaker make committee ...
Decision upholds Mississippi's employment-at-will status: but the Legislature could pass laws providing employees statutory protection.(Focus Insurance & Employee Benefits)
Dec 01, 2003; ... Even though numerous attempts have been made to overturn Kelly v. Mississippi Gas Company--the 1981 landmark Supreme Court decision, which held that an employee who claimed he was terminated because he filed a workers' compensation claim failed to state a valid claim upon which monetary ...
Self-funded plans gain ground as care costs continue climb.(Focus Insurance & Employee Benefits)
Dec 01, 2003; ... PASCAGOULA -- There is one big reason why Lockard & Williams Insurance Services, P.A., has grown to cover more than 25,000 lives in 10 states in the Southeast since the company was founded in 1990. Companies who have had to consider dropping health insurance coverage entirely because of ...
Third-party administrators.(Directory)
Dec 01, 2003 ... <Pre> Third-Party Administrators Company Name/Year FoundedAddress Specialty Areas/Services Offered Web site AmFed Companies, LLC/1993P.O. Box 1380, Ridgeland. MS 39158-1380 ...
Privatization plan could be boon for Coast home building, rentals.
Dec 01, 2003; ... BILOXI -- Home building and rental activity on the Coast could get a major shot in the arm with plans announced by Keesler Air Force Base (AFB) to privatize on-base housing while also closing about 933 housing units by 2010. Brig. Gen. Michael Peterson, while speaking to a ...
Hart-Hall wins Silver Medal in annual Retailer Excellence Awards.(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2003 ... MERIDIAN -- The gift shop Hart-Hall, Ltd., owned by Sara Emma Hall, Was one of the four stores in the nation recognized for merchandise display in the Annual Retailer Excellence Awards sponsored by Gifts & Decorative Accessories, a gift industry trade publication. Hart-Hall received the ...
One of plastic surgery's best has deep Mississippi roots: 'Extreme Makeover' doc grew up in Laurel, an Ole Miss grad.(Fisher, Garth)
Dec 01, 2003; ... Mississippian Garth Fisher isn't a professional athlete, but he's attained major-league status in his chosen field. Fisher, a Beverly Hills, Calif.-based physician, has earned distinction as one of the top plastic surgeons in the United States whose busy practice includes ...
Successful investigatory interviews hinge on sound, and legal, policies
Dec 01, 2003; ... Employers seeking successful and lawful investigator interviews should have an investigative routine that outlines the scope, confidentiality and policy for situations involving an employee's actions. "Demonstrated mastery of routine ... inspires confidence," said Charlie Ingram, of the ...
Rates low, activity high for builders
Dec 01, 2003; ... New home sales in the U.S. were the third-highest ever recorded in September, and sales of previously owned homes hit an all time high - the third month in a row that record high sales were recorded. The strong housing market is being credited with helping spur a nationwide economic ...
WLBT's cameras still rolling half-century later
Dec 01, 2003; ... JACKSON - In December 1953, a new NBC-affiliated television station, using the call letters WJDT, went on the air. Though it was only the third television station in Mississippi to begin broadcasting (the other two also began airing in 1953), there is little documentation of the historical event ...
$35-million tank range under construction at Camp Shelby
Dec 01, 2003; ... FORREST COUNTY - Since it was first activated 86 years ago, the sounds of soldiers training with rifles, machine guns and tanks that spread out across the tall pine forests and gently rolling grassland at Camp Shelby have often been mixed with the sounds of construction. In 1917, when ...
Fitch rates 'Nissan' bonds
Dec 01, 2003; ... Fitch Ratings has assigned a rating of "AA/F1+" to the $240million State of Mississippi's taxable variable-rate general obligation bonds (Nissan North America, Inc. Project) consisting of $140-million series 2003A and $140-million series 2003B. The "AA" long-term component of the ratings ...
Value Line ready to ramp up production in Leakesville
Dec 01, 2003; ... LEAKESVILLE - When Peavey Electronics closed its manufacturing plant here earlier this year, it was a big blow to a small town located in a rural South Mississippi county with a high unemployment rate. But it turned out that the building, owned by the Greene County Board of Supervisors, was ...
Huff Industries in Corinth comes off smelling like a rose
Dec 01, 2003; ... CORINTH - Huff Industries must be the best smelling manufacturer in the state. "We just make scents!" is the trademark of Huff Industries, which manufactures air freshener products such as Vacuum Magic. The family-owned business started with owners Bill and Rachel Huff selling ...
Reform remains big issue in malpractice insurance market
Dec 01, 2003; ... Mississippi doctors, staunch supporters of additional tort reform, have a proposal for state lawmakers they believe will help alleviate the current medical malpractice insurance situation. The Medical Liability Reform Proposal, drafted by the Mississippi State Medical Association (MSMA), ...
George Dale ready for four more years -- once again
Dec 01, 2003; ... On November 4, state insurance commissioner George Dale, the longestserving state insurance commissioner in the nation, was re-elected to an eighth consecutive term. With 31 new state insurance commissioners taking office since January 1, Dale is the elder statesman, receiving inquiries from ...
Housekeeping items, more tort reform expected in session
Dec 01, 2003; ... Some housekeeping items with little major significance and additional tort reform top the insurance industry's legislative agenda in 2004. But not much can be discussed with legislators until Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck, who was re-elected in November, and the new House Speaker make committee ...
Decision upholds Mississippi's employment-at-will status
Dec 01, 2003; ... Even though numerous attempts have been made to overturn Kelly v. Mississippi Gas Company - the 1981 landmark Supreme Court decision, which held that an employee who claimed he was terminated because he filed a workers' compensation claim failed to state a valid claim upon which monetary ...
Self-funded plans gain ground as care costs continue climb
Dec 01, 2003; ... PASCAGOULA - There is one big reason why Lockard & Williams Insurance Services, P.A., has grown to cover more than 25,000 lives in 10 states in the Southeast since the company was founded in 1990. Companies who have had to consider dropping health insurance coverage entirely because of ...
Privatization plan could be boon for Coast home building, rentals
Dec 01, 2003; ... BILOXI - Home building and rental activity on the Coast could get a major shot in the arm with plans announced by Keesler Air Force Base (AFB) to privatize on-base housing while also closing about 933 housing units by 2010. Brig. Gen. Michael Peterson, while speaking to a meeting of the ...
One of plastic surgery's best has deep Mississippi roots
Dec 01, 2003; ... Mississippian Garth Fisher isn't a professional athlete, but he's attained major-league status in his chosen field. Fisher, a Beverly Hills, Calif.-based physician, has earned distinction as one of the top plastic surgeons in the United States whose busy practice includes entertainers, ...
Singing cash registers
Dec 08, 2003; ... Move over, Wal-Mart. From specialty stores to discount warehouses, there's room for all retailers this holiday season as Mississippi shoppers spend early and often. "Business is great," said Bill Hudson, CEO of Hudson Salvage. LLC. "We find that our customers always respond to ...