Morning carjacking in Madison results in manhunt and arrests

Two in custody in Madison carjacking


Two men are in custody following a carjacking in the Madison Burger King parking lot. The carjacking occurred at the fast-food restaurant at the intersection of Highway 463 and Galleria Parkway around 9:00 Tuesday morning.

The driver of the carjacked vehicle was put out at the intersection by two black men. They were making a turn against the light at Highway 463, and were hit by another car.

Master Sergeant Kevin Newman of the Madison Police Department says, "The Burger King Manager was leaving with a bank deposit when she was carjacked in the parking lot. One of the men was armed."

After the wreck, both men fled into a wooded area, but they were caught as they tried to elude police.

The names of the two in custody have not been identified. Madison Police say one is a juvenile. Both are black males. No weapon was recovered.

Officers from the city of Madison, Madison County Sheriff's Department, Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, and the Mississippi Highway Patrol assisted in the search.

Baptist campus expanding

Construction has started on an ambulatory surgery center in the building off Highland Colony Parkway at Mississippi 463, and work will begin soon for a family medical clinic at the corner of Main Street and Old Canton Road. Baptist Health System is also planning on building a wellness facility on its 60-acre campus.

"As the market in Madison County has needs for more health care, we will build accordingly," Baptist Health System spokesman Robby Channell said.

Baptist has begun work on the ambulatory center on the ground floor of its building at 401 Baptist Drive. The hospital has held a certificate of need for the out-patient surgery center since planning the building that opened in 2007, Channell said.

Mike Stevens, Baptist vice president of development, told the Madison Board of Aldermen in January that the center will open probably around June or July.

"We don't have a definite date of when we will start treating patients," Channell said.

MCH

Howland heading back to Madison city board

John Howland appears to be the winner of a special election for Madison alderman at large.

In unofficial results, Howland garnered 916 votes, or 52 percent, to Eddie Tanner’s 847, or 48 percent. Absentee and affidavit ballots were yet to be counted at about 10 p.m. Tuesday.

"I look forward to being back on the board again,” said Howland, a former Madison alderman. “It’s a tall order for anyone to run a citywide campaign in three weeks. It was a hard-fought race.”

Howland and Tanner, a former director of parks and recreation for the city of Madison, vied for the post vacated by Lisa Clingan-Smith in October.

Howland will complete the 2 years remaining of Clingan-Smith’s term. He will take a seat when the Board of Aldermen, meet Dec. 7.

Howland, 48, served one term on the board from 2005-2009. He decided not to run for re-election last year when redistricting carved his existing Ward 6 among three others and he found himself in the same ward as Alderman Pat Peeler.

Tanner, a former member of the Madison County School Board, ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Ridgeland in 2001 against current Mayor Gene McGee. He also previously served as Ridgeland’s director of parks and recreation after serving as Madison’s director.

Howland was endorsed by Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler.

Read More at MCH

Madison Stein Mart one of 3 new U.S. stores

The new Stein Mart opening this month in Madison is one of three new company stores nationwide.

Stein Mart will expand its presence in the United States with the opening of three new stores on November 10.

Stein Mart was founded in 1908 by Sam Stein, a Russian immigrant who opened his first store in Greenville, Mississippi.

Mississippi’s new Stein Mart is opening at The Forum at Madison Grandview.

Read more at MBJ

Alderman-at-large resigns from Madison board

Madison Alderman-at-large Lisa Clingan-Smith has resigned after 17 years in her elected position.
Clingan-Smith submitted her resignation to Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler and the Board of Aldermen on Tuesday. Clingan-Smith is starting work Nov. 1 with the Mississippi Public Service Commission in a federally funded position.

Under the federal Hatch Act, Clingan-Smith said she can not serve in her elected capacity while on the federal payroll as a special staff chief for the PSC.

“Had it not been for her strong convictions and dedication and love for community, always voting for the people, we wouldn’t see the Madison we have today,” Butler said in saluting Clingan-Smith, the longest serving member of the current board.

“I thank her for her courageous 17 years of service,” the mayor said.


Read More: MCH

Deadline for Madison town square extended

Developers have more time to come up with plans to develop Madison’s town square.

The city, along with the Madison Square Redevelopment Authority (MSRA), recently extended the deadline for proposals for the highly anticipated project to January 18.

Alan Hoops, director of Community Development, said the original deadline was in August. “We had at least two interested developers who wanted more time,” he said.

While construction might not begin as soon as city officials had hoped, extending the deadline has had at least one benefit. Since making the decision, other builders have also shown interest in the project.

“We’ve sent out requests for proposals to at least two or three developers. One of them is in south Florida and the other is from Arkansas,” Hoops said. “There is a company that advertises projects like this for developers and we were picked up.” The city didn’t pay for the advertising and Hoops couldn’t think of the name of the company during the interview.

He said the number of developers showing interest in the square is about what city leaders expected.

Contractors can make proposals to lease the property or buy the property from the city. Ideally, Hoops would like to see a developer chosen who already has tenants lined up to move in as soon as buildings go up.

The square will sit on approximately 17 acres bordered by U.S. 51, Madison Avenue, Main Street and Magnolia Street

Read more: NS

Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler talks about a possible run for state auditor

Mayor Mary sat down with Terry Cassreino of the Better Mississippi Report recently to talk about her 30 years as Mayor of Madison and her future as a potential candidate for statewide office. You can listen to entire interview via podcast HERE.

While Mississippi and the nation have suffered through the worst recession since World War II, Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler said strong management and leadership have helped her city survive.


Butler, mayor of the city of 27,000 just north of Jackson, said Madison has benefited from such things as growth in retail and the opening of a branch campus of Tulane University. Construction continues on new retail along Grandview Drive.

“There are some things that we had to cut, tighten our belt,” Butler said. “But we never want to do anything that’s going to jeopardize the safety and the health and welfare if the people.”

Butler talked about the recession, retail growth, Tulane University and her political future in a wide-ranging interview featured on Episode 11 of the “Better Mississippi Report Internet Radio Podcast” – which was released today.

Better Mississippi Report

Viking Classic Kicks Off With Pro-Am

The Viking Classic, Mississippi’s premiere sporting event, is expected to attract thousands of spectators not only on the golf course, but also in the culinary tent.

The 2010 Viking Classic kicked off Monday and runs through Sunday at Annandale Golf Club in Madison. It will be the first event of the PGA Tour’s 2010 Fall Series.

Several days of rain canceled last year's tournament for the first time in its 43-year history. It still raised $560,000 for local charities, including $100,000 for the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children.

"Since our inception in 1994, we've managed to give $6 million to local charities, including last year when we were able to give just under $570,000," said Gene Simmons, the president of Century Club Charities.

Organizers said this year's event will have a $20 million effect on the area's economy.

The first round of the PGA tournament tees off Thursday at 7 a.m. The final round is Sunday.


Viking Range Corp. has agreed to sponsor the event through 2011. This year's purse is set at $3.6 million, with $648,000 going to the winner.

For tickets and information on the Viking Classic, visit http://www.vikingclassic.com/ or call the tournament office at 601-898-GOLF (4653).

WAPT

Police warn residents after Whisper Lake children are approached by motorist

Madison police are warning residents to be wary of unfamiliar vehicles in their neighborhoods after a report of a motorist talking with children at the Whisper Lake section of Annandale Saturday.
According to witnesses, a driver in an older model white van resembling a construction van pulled alongside three children out walking and began to ask them if they were going to the clubhouse to swim. Madison Police Capt. Robert Sanders said the three became uncomfortable with the questions and ran to a nearby home to report the incident. The driver continued driving on Whisper Lake Avenue toward Whisper Lake Boulevard.

The motorist was described as a bald man in his late 30s to early 40s with no facial hair.

Similar situations of a motorist approaching children happened in July in Bradford Place and Sherbourne subdivisions. A Jackson man, Ricky Wayne Davis, 49, was arrested last month and charged with two counts of attempted enticement of a child and two counts of attempted kidnapping. He is in the Madison County Detention Center on $2 million bond.

Anyone with information about this or with concerns should call the Madison Police Department at (601) 856-6111.

MCH

MC Herald: Ridgeland teen arrested on Madison burglary charge

A Ridgeland teen has been arrested by Madison police on burglary charges.

Brandon Lambert, 17, of 102 Chicot Cove, is being charged as an adult with one count of house burglary, possession of burglary tools and a switched car tag, according to a police statement.

He is being held at the Madison County Detention Center pending an initial appearance Monday. No bond has been set.

MCH

A great day to be a kid in Flora and Madison County (Pictures and Video)

Saturday was a great day to be a kid in Flora and Madison County. Temps were less stifling than earlier in the month, and there was plenty to do.

Fun In Flora

Sophie Longwitz takes a break from
campaigning for her dad, Will at Fun In Flora.

Kids enjoy the rock climbing wall at Fun In Flora.

Fun In Flora.

Fun In Flora

Kids enjoy the Space Jump at Fun In Flora.

Kearney Park Cowboys Football at East Flora
The KP Cowboys defeated the Eagles in the early game 26-6.

The Kearney Park Cowboys meet their opposition on the field
following a 26-6 win.

Two Kearney Park Cowboy defenders surround the Eagle's QB
on one of the final plays of the game at East Flora School.

The Andrew Jackson Council and Boy Scouts of America 100-Year Celebration Camp-O-Ree at Liberty Park in Madison

Thousands of Scouts descended on Liberty Park in Madison for a weekend long
celebration of 100-years of Scouting.

Madison Police Arrest Man Accused Of Exposing Himself To Child

Ricky Wayne Davis Held On $2M Bond

A man accused of trying to lure children into his car also exposed himself to one of the children in at least one of the incidents, Madison County District Attorney Michael Guest said.

Madison police said they arrested 49-year-old Ricky Davis, of Jackson, Friday during a traffic stop on Rice Road.

Davis was charged with two counts of attempted kidnapping and two counts of child exploitation.

Madison police officers spent most of last week looking for a man who was trying get children into his car in the Bradford and Sherbourne subdivisions, police said.

Judge Dale Danks set Davis' bond at $500,000 for each charge, totaling $2 million. Davis is being held at the Madison County Detention Center.

Danks said if Davis has not hired a lawyer by Thursday, he will assign a court-ordered attorney and schedule a preliminary hearing soon thereafter.

MSNBC

Madison County tax rolls swell

Property value tops $1B for 7th straight year

Madison County's growth spurt continues as the tax rolls keep getting fatter.

For the seventh year in a row, the assessed value of real and personal property topped the billion-dollar mark. The total worth of the county hit $1.36 billion in assessed value in 2010, showing a 4 percent increase over last year, Tax Assessor Gerald Barber told the Board of Supervisors.

"There are 81 other tax assessors who would love to have these numbers," Barber said.

In today's slumping national economy, the county's growth is more than the tax assessor expected. He said he was hoping to beat 2 percent growth.

Supervisors will take the property values, which represent a percentage of true value, to prepare a budget for spending in the fiscal year starting Oct. 1.

"Going into the budget working with these numbers and the positive news that Gerald gave us means we can balance our books without a tax increase," said Tim Johnson, president of the Board of Supervisors. "Looking at 4 percent growth in this economy, Madison County is very blessed."

In addition to the county's growth, Barber also presented assessed values for the four municipalities and two school districts, and all but one showed an increase. The city of Canton's 2010 tax assessment showed a 2 percent drop from 2009, from $71.7 million to $70.4 million.

Madison and Ridgeland both experienced a 5 percent growth in value, while Flora reflected a 3 percent growth in assessed value. The Madison County school district showed a 4 percent increase over last year, while the Canton school district showed a 3 percent rise.

"In this economy, that's really, really fantastic," said David Overby, Ridgeland director of finance.

The city of Madison was the only one to show an increase in the assessed value of autos among the county's taxing districts. The value of vehicles in the city, reflected by taxes paid in car tags, rose 6 percent, compared with a 4 percent drop in the county and in the county school district, a 5 percent drop in Ridgeland and in Flora, a 7 percent drop in the Canton school district and a 10 percent decrease in Canton.

"It appears the city of Madison is still buying cars," Barber said.

The lower values in the automobile class shows that people are holding onto their existing vehicles and paying less in taxes on tags each year or they are buying less expensive cars than in the past and paying less for tags, he said.

Barber, who spoke to supervisors on Tuesday, also said the tax rolls show a decrease in new construction throughout the county, except in Ridgeland.

Madison County overall showed a drop in construction of $7.8 million, down to $35.5 million, while Ridgeland showed an increase of about $841,000 in assessed value, up to $11.7 million.

Clarion Ledger

Some Gluckstadt residents hope community will become Madison County municipality

Canton Mayor has no objection, Madison Mayor withholds judgement pending more information

Group pushes hopes for city



The future of the proposed city of Gluckstadt rests on 10 sets of petitions circulating in the Madison County community.

"We're going to put a push on this summer to get the signatures we need," said Bill Weisenberger, listed as the proposed mayor of Gluckstadt for incorporation purposes if a successful petition drive can get the cause to Madison County Chancery Court.

Two-thirds of the qualified electors living in the proposed city have to sign the petition asking for incorporation.

That number is "simply a moving target. The pool of qualified electors changes every day" as people move in and out of the community, said Jerry Mills, the attorney for city-status supporters. "You've really got to prove a super majority of voters - on the day of filing - want this incorporation."

Weisenberger said no target date has been set for getting the required number of signatures, but "we'd like to get them as soon as possible."

The committee overseeing the incorporation effort plans come-and-go meetings in the coming weeks for residents to sign the petitions and find out more.

Read more at The Clarion Ledger



Gluckstadt Incorporation

Man arrested for cocaine possession in Madison

A traffic stop lands one man behind bars in Madison County.

A Ford Explorer was traveling northbound on Interstate 55 when a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop. After questioning the driver 47-year-old Jose Delarosa the deputy grew suspicious and requested consent to search the vehicle. A false compartment was discovered with five kilos of suspected cocaine inside.

Delarosa is charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, driving with a suspending drivers license and following too closely.

The vehicle was also seized.

Delarosa is being held in the Madison County Detention Center.

WLBT

Madison Police need help finding burglary suspect

Police release sketch of Cobblestone attempted burglary suspect


Madison Police have a composite sketch of a suspect wanted in an attempted house burglary in Cobblestone subdivision.

The burglary, in which an occupant of the house struggled with the suspect, occurred May 27.

The witness to the crime assisted police in creating the composite sketch. The suspect is about 5 feet, 10 inches tall and had an "unshaven, unkempt appearance," according to a Friday statement from police.

Anyone with information about the attempted burglary should call the Madison Police Department at (601) 856-6111.

Tulane-Madison approved for student loans

MADISON — Tulane University’s Madison branch has now been cleared for students to receive federal student loans, a little too late for some classes that were scheduled to begin this week.

Sherry Chance, director of the branch, tells The Clarion-Ledger that the U.S. Department of Education handed down the official certification of the campus as an institution of higher learning yesterday.

The federal approval is needed so that lenders can process federal student loans.

On May 28, university officials decided to cancel the five classes that were to start yesterday and run through July 12.

Richard Marksbury, dean of the School of Continuing Studies that operates the Madison campus, said the university expected the federal approval before classes were to start.

MBJ

Related Posts: Tulane-Madison 'glitch' cancels classes



Tulane Madison cancels classes

Tulane-Madison ‘glitch’ cancels classes

MADISON — When a Tulane University satellite campus opens Tuesday in Madison, Miss., only three of the classes that were set for a June start will begin.

Branch director Sherry Chance tells the Madison County Herald that a “bureaucratic glitch” canceled seven summer courses.

Richard Marksbury, dean of Tulane’s School of Continuing Studies, says the U.S. Department of Education has not yet certified the campus as an institution eligible for federal student loans.

He says there was miscommunication between Tulane and the U.S. Department of Education. He says it was not Tulane’s fault.

Marksbury says the three classes beginning on Tuesday will cover both summer semesters, and their students don’t need financial aid to pay the three-hour course fee of $846.

MBJ



Tulane Madison cancels classes

Is there a double standard being applied with Tulane's Madison campus?

Tulane’s satellite campus raises questions

GAUTIER — Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College President Willis Lott is finding that not all out-of-state institutions face the same scrutiny when they open campuses in Mississippi.

Last March, MGCCC had plans to bring the University of South Alabama to its Gautier campus, in the space that had previously been leased by the University of Southern Mississippi. The decision brought up public opposition from state officials. Yet as New Orleans-based Tulane University plans to open a satellite campus in Madison in June, the same opposition has not arisen.

The Sun Herald reports some differences exist between the two situations. Tulane University already has a satellite campus in Mississippi in Biloxi. Also Tulane is leasing space from the city of Madison, while USA planned to lease space from a community college that had previously leased to an in-state university.

MBJ

The Saga Continues: Engineering Board to look at Warnock complaint

Engineer fights report's validity

Complaint filed over study initiated by Madison mayor

MADISON COUNTY — Engineer Rudy Warnock has filed a complaint with the Mississippi Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors about a study instigated by Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler analyzing his contracts with Madison County.

The board will investigate the complaint, according to Rosemary Brister, executive director of the state licensing board.

"This is something the board will look at," Brister, said

Dorsey Carson, Warnock's attorney, filed the complaint April 28, alleging the mayor used a "hired gun" engineer to compile the report that criticized the county's engineering contracts, its lack of checks and balances with Warnock and Warnock's fees.

In a letter to the board, Carson charges that Richard McAfee, hired by Butler, violated state law by engaging in "the unauthorized practice of engineering in Mississippi."

Brister said the board, meeting April 29, determined the complaint met the criteria for an investigation - it fell within its jurisdiction and "was not frivolous."

A member, investigator and attorney from the board along with Brister will look into the allegations. Brister said she has no timetable for completing the investigation and it's too early to say how the complaint will be resolved.

Butler called the request for a state inquiry "a smokescreen and just another deterrent."

She cited McAfee's credentials as a consultant to two presidents and the military as proof that he is a capable engineer able to offer an opinion in Mississippi.

"Mr. McAfee can give his opinion all over the world but can't in Madison County." Butler said. "Who is Rudy Warnock to question his resume? Mr. McAfee has worked under presidents Bush and Clinton and Gen. Colin Powell, and he can't give his opinion on a Mickey Mouse operation here?"

In the complaint, Carson said that McAfee, who used his credentials as a professional engineer to sign the report, violated the state statute that requires any person practicing engineering in the state to be licensed in Mississippi.

Read the complete story at The Clarion Ledger 

You can view a copy of the complaint here.

Related Post: Warnock takes his gripe to the State Board of Licensure