AccelerateMS Serves the Delta
By Jack Criss Kimberley Jones-Gatewood Heads Ecosystem 3 “Mississippi will have a world-class workforce with unlimited, quality career opportunities to create sustained individual, community and statewide economic prosperity.” This is the stated mission of AccelerateMS (Office Of Workforce Development) a recently-created office authorized by the Mississippi Legislature in early 2021 as a “partnership” of sorts […]
Douglas Freeze
New regional leader in workforce training, economic development by Jack Criss DBJ Contributing Writer Mississippi Delta Community College (MDCC) named Douglas Freeze as its new Vice President of Workforce and Economic Development in January of this year. Freeze came to MDCC from Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, where he served as Director of Workforce […]
Lisa Cookston
Lisa Cookston, a native of Greenwood, was named Executive Director of the Museum of the Mississippi Delta this past January. Cookston spent her youth visiting the museum, formally called the Cottonlandia Musuem, and was proud to take the leadership reins. Cookston is a graduate of Pillow Academy and the University of Ole Miss where […]
Dr. Daniel Ennis
Takes the Reins as Delta States Ninth President By Jack Criss • Photography by Campbell Saia Dr. Daniel J. Ennis officially stepped into his role as Delta State University’s ninth president on June 1 after being officiall hired in March. Ennis comes to DSU from Coastal Carolina University, where he most recently served as Provost. […]
Pump Plans Moving Forward
A Major Step for Flood Control By Jack Criss Aproposed water management solution was presented in Vicksburg on May 4 to mitigate flooding in the South Delta. The Yazoo Pumps, long promoted by advocates and residents, now look to be finally completed in the near future, according to statements made by government officials at the […]
Clarksdale Native Named Millsaps Dean
Fiser to Head Else School of Management By Jack Criss Clarksdale native and attorney, Harvey L. Fiser, J.D., was named Dean of the Else School of Management at Millsaps College in Jackson, taking over the helm officially in July. Fiser has been serving as interim dean since 2021. Fiser joined the Else faculty as an […]
Bubba Simmons
Delta Council President By Becky Gillette • Photography by Johnny Jennings Bubba Simmons is the sixth-generation member of his family to farm in the Mississippi Delta. On his mother’s side, his great-great-great grandfather came to the Mississippi Delta in the 1871 before a lot of the Delta was even settled. Simmons, the new president of […]
Tornado Relief
Rolling Fork Tornado Devastation Brings Massive Government and Private Help By Becky Gillette The images of Rolling Fork before and after the EF4 tornado that hit at 8:02 p.m. Friday, March 24, showed such complete devastation that this small Delta town was the focus of international news coverage including in Australia and England. Very little […]
Train Derailment
Leflore County Farm Still Contaminated Eight Years After Event By Becky Gillette The February Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, released hundreds of thousands of pounds of hazardous waste and focused nationwide attention on the health hazards associated with train derailments. At least twenty-five federal lawsuits have been filed against the company. A […]
Entergy’s Cook-Nelson
Oversees Nuclear Operations for Three States By Jack Criss Kimberly Cook-Nelson was named Executive Vice President of Nuclear Operations and Chief Nuclear Officer of Entergy in November of 2022, where she is responsible for the safe, secure and reliable operations of Entergy’s four nuclear power plants and five reactors located in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. […]