Business News for the Mississippi Delta

Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith

A Calling and Commitment To Serve By Jack Criss The first woman ever elected as Mississippi’s Agriculture Comm-issioner, the first woman to represent Mississippi in Congress through appointment and the first woman from Mississippi elected to Congress, Cindy Hyde-Smith puts a higher power as “first” in her personal life. “Terrible things are happening in our […]

Initiative 65

By Phil Bryant There’s a $14 billion dollar industry that wants to sell their product in Mississippi. It’s backed by powerful and wealthy investment firms. Studies show their product is harmful to our health and will put our kids and vulnerable populations at risk. Yet, this out-of-state industry has devised a scheme to give themselves […]

“Proud Southern” Architect 

Frances Zook carves impressive niche By Jack Criss  •  Photography by Laura Negri Childress Frances Flautt Zook doesn’t mind being categorized as a Southern architect. Truth be told, she embraces the label. “I’m a proud Southern architect,” Zook, a Greenwood native, says. “Vernacular styles of a geographical area influence my work. I don’t admire a […]

Blakeman, Brister & Putman Financial Group

Local service, worldwide expertise By Jack Criss Founded in 1957 by Sonny Blakeman, Blakeman, Brister and Putman Financial Group has throughout its history established itself as one of the Delta’s—most recognizable money/wealth management teams. Along with partners Mike Brister and David Putman, Chip Otts, an Indianola native, has been associated with the firm since 2000, he says the company offers a full […]