www.mississippilink.com Vol. 20, No. 40 July 31 - August 6, 2014 50¢ Congratulations to winners of ... The 36th Mississippi The 40th Jackson Gospel Music Awards & Music Awards First woman James Brown biopic “Get named director of On Up!” filmed in Mississippi Jackson’s Public premieres in Jackson area By Stephanie R. Jones Contributing Writer Works Department Movie director Tate Taylor once again brought the glitz of Hollywood to Mississippi with a special premiere show- Kishia L. Powell’s city council ing of his latest project, the confirmation passes 5 yeas 1 abstention James Brown biopic “Get On Up!” By Ayesha K. Mustafaa About 575 attended the tick- Editor eted Sunday show at Malco Grandview in Madison, Miss., The Jackson City Council Sunday, July 27, 2014, to see held a confirmation hearing and greet movie stars as they in the public council meeting walked the red carpet, leading Tuesday, July 29, accepting up to a nationwide opening of with five yeas and one ab- the film on Friday, August 1. stention Mayor Tony Yarber’s The charity fundraiser took selection of Kishia L. Powell, in $30,000 for Mission Mis- Gov. Phil Bryant with wife Deborah, Tate Taylor, director of Get On Up! and Chadwick Boseman who P.E., as the director of the sissippi, an organization that portrays James Brown in the movie are all smiles at the movie premiere. PHOTO BY JAY JOHNSON city’s Public Works Depart- promotes racial reconcilia- ment., making her the first tion through the teachings of New York, but because it was “our visionary.” ter. Jaclyn Bethany, a gradu- woman to ever hold the posi- Christ. filmed mostly in Jackson and Appearing with Taylor was ate of St. Andrews Episcopal tion. Ward 3 Councilwoman Nettie Winters, president of Natchez, Miss., Taylor, a Mis- Chadwick Boseman, who School in Ridgeland, also had LaRita Cooper-Stokes was Mission Mississippi, said the sissippi native, did the same portrays James Brown in the a supporting role. absent. film helps to change the mes- here. movie. Others on the carpet Taylor said this premiere Yarber has followed sage of Mississippi that nor- Gov. Phil Bryant was on were Mississippians includ- was just as exciting as his first through on his promises to mally is filtered throughout hand to welcome the cast and ing twins Jordan and Jamarion for “The Help.” exemplify Jackson as the Powell PHOTO BYJAY JOHNSON the world. “There is no bigger crew back to the city and tout Scott, 7, who played a young Boseman said “Get Up On!” “bold new city,” reaching be- event in the world than being the economic impact Taylor’s Brown; 14-year-old Alvin Ed- was “the film of a lifetime. It yond the local area to find his maintenance.” here today,” Winters said. “It’s films (he also director “The ney II, who played Brown’s would have been a big mistake new director for one of the The multitude of com- a great story and Mississippi is Help,” which was filmed in the son Teddy; and 7-year-old most important departments plaints about broken water on the map.” state) have had on the state. McKenzie Matthews, who of the city. pipelines, crumbling streets Get on up The film also premiered in Bryant referred to Taylor as played Brown’s young daugh- Continued on page 4 The city describes the mis- and other issues with an ag- sion of its Public Works De- ing infrastructure will be the partment as “to maintain and responsibility of Powell. enhance the capital city’s in- Powell has 16 years of frastructure with dependable, experience and expertise in professional and dedicated sustainable infrastructure employees…. Its divisions management and utility op- The Tougaloo 9 featured in include engineering, facility erations. She’s served mu- management, infrastructure management, solid waste, Powell water and sewer and vehicle Continued on page 2 “Risking Everything: A Freedom Summer Exhibit for Students” Photo of the Week By Ayesha K. Mustafaa Editor Happy Birthday The Eudora Welty Library, 300 N. State St., in downtown Councilman Charles Tillman Jackson, was the venue for the Jackson Hinds Library System’s Senior Statesman reception for The Wisconsin Historical Society traveling ex- hibit, themed “Risking Every- thing: A Freedom Summer Ex- hibit for Students.” The reception and exhibit fea- tured a ceremony honoring the Tougaloo 9, a group of Tougaloo College students, whose March 27, 1961 sit-in led to the deseg- regation of the Jackson Munici- pal Library, which was across the street from the current Eu- Alfred Cook (right) one of the original Tougaloo 9 traveled from Flint, Mich. to witness the exhibit dora Welty Library. ceremony with his grandchildren, Jessie Cook and Imani Hill. PHOTOS BY AYESHA K. MUSTAFAA The ceremony included a dra- matic reenactment of the Touga- Mich., and James C. Bradford of played the roles of each of the to attend the exhibit, joined by loo 9’s 1961 sit-in. It closed with Jackson - were present to receive Tougaloo 9. The reenactment his grandchildren, Imani Hill, the presentation of nine medal- the medallions presented by Pat- was directed by Charlotte Mo- 12, and Jessie Cook, 24. Jessie lions honoring the Tougaloo 9. ty Furr, executive director of the man, assistant director of public Portrait of Tillman as acting mayor and birthday song presented Two of the original Tougaloo Jackson Hinds Library System. services. Tougaloo 9 during city council meeting July 29. PHOTO BY JAY JOHNSON 9 - Alfred L. Cook Sr. of Flint, Students from the library staff Cook drove from Michigan Continued on page 4 Mayor Tony Yarber Phi Beta Sigma Economic Share this issue with a friend announces 2014 Fraternity Inc. Development by mailing it to: back to school celebrates Authority officers Inside celebration and centennial take oaths of giveaway office Page 8 Page 3 Page 2 BUSINESS 2 • the mississiPPi link July 31 - August 6, 2014 www.mississippilink.com Economic Development Authority officers take oaths of office By Jackie Hampton recommend- Publisher ing Ed John- The Hinds County Eco- son to serve nomic Development Author- as president, ity held its regular Board of Joe Rooks Trustees meeting Wednes- as vice day, July 30, 2014 at 11:30 p r e s i d e n t a.m. The luncheon meeting and Louis was held at the Capital Club Wright as of Jackson and was open to s e c r e t a r y - the public. t r e a s u r e r. Ed Johnson presided over The board the meeting. Johnson, who unanimous- formerly was vice president ly voted to of the board, was filling the accept the unexpired term of Van Au- committee’s brey Evans, who passed away recommen- June 12 after a long battle dations. with Multiple Myeloma. The new Hinds Co. Economic Development Authority Board of Trustees luncheon at the The first order of business officers took Captial Club of Jackson PHOTOS BY JACKIE HAMPTON L- R Louis Wright, Joe Rooks and Ed Johnson taking oath of office was a report from the nomi- the oath of son said he would serve as ganization, and as vice to help him through the pro- office in order to move Hinds nating committee regarding office from Blake Wallace, president by being transpar- president, he too would be cess. County forward.” the officers for the fiscal year executive director of the ent, accountable and acces- transparent and accountable. Wright said, “I am hon- Members of the nominat- 2014-2015. Hinds County Economic De- sible. Rooks, being a new member ored to serve as secretary- ing committee include Mary Leroy Walker stated the velopment Authority. Rooks stated he was hon- of the board, said he would treasurer and will do my best White, Mike Daly and Leroy committee was unanimously After taking the oath John- ored to be a part of the or- rely on Walker and others to carry out the duties of the Walker, chairman. Powell Continued from page 1 nicipal clients across the U.S. in salary proposed for Powell, In 2008, Powell was named AMEC, one of the world’s serve the citizens of Jackson. ents during her confirmation and London, England. which will make her the high- head of the Bureau of Water leading engineering, project “Where the Mayor has cast a hearing, saying, “They have “The expertise Ms. Pow- est paid city employee - more and Wastewater for the City management and consultancy vision for the City of Jack- empowered me to live a life ell brings to Jackson raises than the mayor. To the inqui- of Baltimore, serving 1.8 mil- companies, where she is the son, part of my role as pub- of consequence, consciously the bar in terms of expecta- ry, Powell said that coming lion customers in the Balti- business development lead lic works director will be to choosing to devote part of my tions set for the Public Works from the private sector to ac- more metropolitan region and for the Chesapeake Bay Re- align the department with the life to something beyond my- Department and the services cept this position she will be providing oversight for 1,900 gion. She assisted in increas- policy initiatives established self.” provided to our citizens,” taking a pay cut. Regarding employees in seven divisions. ing the firm’s market share in for the administration,” she Powell is a licensed profes- Yarber said. the morale of the department, She was responsible for ad- stormwater program manage- said. sional engineer in Maryland, “Ms. Powell has set herself she said she will work to see ministration and operations ment and water resources en- “We’ll do this by initiating Virginia and the District of apart in a male-dominated that all employees are com- of the Bureau, including the gineering engagements.