Top Stories – Page 93 – The Mississippi Link

Jazz legend Jones to be honored with concert

One of Vicksburg’s music legends will be honored Aug. 4 with a concert, discussion panel and art exhibit.

The Vicksburg Blues Society and Vicksburg Heritage League are hosting the Fourth Annual Hank Jones Memorial Concert and Festival from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 4 at Vicksburg City Auditorium, said event organizer Shirley Waring.

Jones was a jazz pianist and composer whose 70-year career included a stint as Ella Fitzgerald’s pianist and Marilyn Monroe’s accompanist when she sang “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy. […]

Emile Griffith, elegant boxing champ, dies at 75

Kermit 1

Inside the smaller theater at Madison Square Garden about five years ago, shortly before a world title fight, Emile Griffith was introduced one more time to the crowd. He rose shakily from his seat, waved ever so briefly and then sat down.

The applause kept going.

Revered in retirement perhaps more than during his fighting days, Griffith died Tuesday, July 23, at 75 after a long battle with pugilistic dementia. The first fighter to be crowned world champion from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Griffith required full-time care late in life and died at an extended care facility in Hempstead, N.Y. […]

10 indicted in deadly prison riot

Kermit 0

Ten additional individuals have been indicted in connection with the riot that occurred at the Adams County Correctional Center (ACCC) in Natchez, Mississippi on May 20, 2012, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney announced this week.

The ACCC houses approximately 2,500 non-resident aliens who have been convicted of federal charges in the United States. During the riot, several correctional officers were assaulted.

Correctional Officer (CO) Catlin Carithers died as a result of injuries he received during these assaults. […]

Doctor: Dennis Farina was being treated for cancer

Kermit 0

Dennis Farina’s doctor says the actor died while being treated for lung cancer.

Farina, who died Monday after suffering a blood clot in his lung, had been under treatment for the cancer for several months, according to his cardiologist, Dr. Marc A. Kates.

Thirteen years ago Farina had been diagnosed with “a small cancer that was treated and cured with surgery,” Kates said in a statement on Tuesday. […]

Jackson-Hinds Library System’s new-hire continues to draw sparks

admin 1

By Othor Cain

Contributing writer
At her first board meeting as Executive Director of the Jackson-Hinds Library System, Patty Furr was met with a strong out-cry of opposition from some library employees and community members. “Mrs. Furr, this isn’t personal and I feel as though you’re a very nice lady. But for some of us here, Charlotte will always be our leader,” said Celeste Ramirez, an employee of the Library. “We feel as if this process was flawed and Charlotte was over-looked.”

Ramirez was referring to Charlotte Moman, assistant director for Public Service at the Jackson-Hinds Library System. Several employees felt that Moman, who after 23 years of service should have been named executive director…. […]

Duck Dynasty stars raise $280K for children’s home

Kermit 0

The head of a Hattiesburg children’s home says five “Duck Dynasty” stars helped raise $280,000 to $300,000 for Homes of Hope for Children.

Michael Garrett says officials are still tallying proceeds from the fundraiser Saturday night at the Forrest County Multi Purpose Center.

People and companies paid $30 to $1,000 per ticket to see members of the big clan from Monroe, La., featured on the A&E reality show. […]

Miss. insurer could cut ties to 2 hospital systems

Kermit 0

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi has told the state’s second-largest hospital owner that it will end its contract with the company’s 10 Mississippi hospitals at the end of August.

The insurer sent the termination notice to Health Management Associates hospitals statewide on June 25. Naples, Fla.-based HMA had sued Blue Cross for $13 million a week earlier, claiming the Flowood, Miss., insurer is breaking contract terms by underpaying for a number of procedures. […]

DSU president LaForge returning to work this week

Kermit 0

Delta State University President Bill LaForge says his doctors have given him a clean bill of health, and he will be back at work this week.

DSU spokeswoman Michelle Roberts said Friday that LaForge will attend a Delta State alumni meeting Thursday in Jackson, then will return to campus in Cleveland.

During the July 4 weekend, LaForge suffered a subdural hematoma – a gathering of blood on the brain’s surface – while at a South Carolina beach with family. Roberts says while LaForge’s injury was not major, he went to a local hospital when he continued to suffer headaches and pain. […]

Jackson police officer hit by car on I-55

Kermit 0

Police Chief Lindsey Horton has confirmed the death of a Jackson Police Officer, his first since being named to his new post earlier this month. Horton said 35-year Bruce Jacob was killed Saturday afternoon after being hit by a motorist in the southbound lanes of I-55 and Northside Drive.

Jacob, a Precinct Four officer, and a five year veteran of the police force, received a call about debris on the roadway of I-55 south about 1:30 p.m. He had reportedly retrieved a barbecue grill that had fallen off a truck and was putting it in the trunk of his cruiser when another vehicle came from behind and hit him.

Jacob was taken to UMC where he died of multiple blunt-force trauma, Hinds County Coroner Sharon Grisham Stewart said.
[…]

Louisiana man hits $2.1M slot jackpot

Kermit 0

A Baton Rouge, La., man became a millionaire Friday after hitting a $2.1 million jackpot at the Hard Rock Casino in Biloxi.

The man, identified in a casino news release as Aaron K., works as a cook on a riverboat. He says he had been playing the Wheel of Fortune slot machine for less than five minutes when he hit the progressive jackpot. […]