www.mississippilink.com Vol. 19, No. 1 october 25 - 31, 2012 50¢ Dedicating our 19th-year Anniversary Issue to our Advertisers Legacy of local business The Mississippi Link icon continues salutesBy Jackie Hampton advertisers publish only a digital edi- over the years made sure we in our newspaper and in our Publisher Glenda Rushing tion. We are very fortunate consistently published a first readers and subscribers. For the past that our print edition contin- class product each and ev- We consider our adver- 19 years, The ues to grow while our daily ery week. We also have the tisers our partners because Mississippi Link online edition and weekly distinction of not missing a partners rely on one anoth- picks up mantle has fostered re- digital e-edition are holding single issue during 19 years er for growth. Without this markable rela- its own and growing. of publication. partnership we could not By Othor Cain tionships with However, we dare not We could also credit our have hired the best employ- Managing Editor individuals, organizations, boast about our success with- readers for choosing to read ees, produced the greatest and businesses, not only in out sharing with our readers our product each week and weekly newspaper, built the Operating under the mantle the community in which we who really is responsible for for telling us what you like greatest digital publication of ‘Down Home…Down the publish each week, but also our growth and success. about our newspaper and on and web site, and as a staff, Street’ is what keeps Piggly with others across the coun- We could easily say that occasions, what you don’t could not have met some of Wiggly in business today. It try. We value these relation- it is because of our founder, like, and for that we are so the best people in the world. is this mindset and a spirit ships and credit them for our Socrates Garrett, who rec- grateful because we value We truly believe in our ad- of family, love and affection success. ognized 19 years ago that their comments and often vertisers and their products that Harrell Gene Rushing It is no small feat that The African-Americans needed times have made adjust- just as they believe in us and harnessed in 1984 when he Mississippi Link has not a brand new outlet in which ments based on them. our growing audience, and opened his first grocery store only survived but prospered. their stories could be told But as we celebrate this for this we proudly salute in Ridgeland, Miss. Many print publications without bias or prejudice; or milestone, we must pay spe- them and proudly dedicate It’s a spirit that he shared across the nation have com- we could credit our success cial recognition to our ad- this our 19th Anniversary with his wife Glenda for more pletely folded in the past few to the talented editors, re- vertisers for our success and Edition to past and current than 47 years of marriage Rushing years and others have elimi- porters, graphic artists, copy longevity. Our advertisers “Mississippi Link Advertis- before the untimely accident nated their print edition and editors, and other staff who have proven that they believe ers.” that claimed his life in 2010. ple that our ad in your paper “I know that my family and looks so good, in fact I say, it I were blessed to have shared looks better than the circular this wonderful man with so we print weekly.” many people,” she said. “He The relationship Rushing Mississippi Link subscriber: Rev. was a rare individual.” established with The Missis- Those that knew him [Rush- sippi Link has created a part- ing] knew that he was an as- nership that extends beyond a tute businessman. “salesperson/client” environ- Wattleton, 96, loves her newspaper “I learned so much from ment. By Ayesha K. Mustafaa Although Wattleton has per: “Make sure the articles him and it is because of him “Mr. Rushing was one of Staff Writer traveled across the nation are not too long and get to that I’m able to act in my ca- my first full-page long-term Asked how long she has as an evangelist, she never the point. Other than that, pacity as store manager for clients,” said Jackie Hampton, been reading The Missis- lost her home connection; I think it is a high ranking the Meadowbrook store,” publisher of The Mississippi sippi Link, Ozie Wattleton staying close with family, source of news for us. shared Anderson Haynes. “I Link. “Whenever I called on responded, “Ever since it friends and The Mississippi Wattleton turns have been working at Piggly him to help with a community started. I was so impressed Link. 97-years-old Nov. 21. She Wiggly since I was 16 years project, with our local school with that newspaper, and it The newspaper keeps the has witnessed the election old.” system or whatever, he never has come a long way.” The connection strong; it is “the of an African American as Rushing believed in con- hesitated to say yes.” newspaper turns 19 years old link” that makes Mississip- president of these United necting with the community, Always seeing the good in this week. pians, wherever they live, States, where once it was giving back and serving as a a person is an attribute that “It ought to be going out stronger in commitment to illegal for African Ameri- mentor for young people. Glenda said keeps the busi- more than once a week. It their home state. cans to vote. “We have been advertising ness going. “He had this in- turned out to be such a beau- Wattleton said, “I watched Wattleton said after liv- with The Mississippi Link for nate ability to see the poten- tiful paper,” Wattleton con- my nephew (Socrates Gar- ing in other states, this is so many years because my tial in everyone,” she said. tinued. “I have a friend in rett) start this paper, and it where she wants to live husband recognized its value “He believed in giving a per- Los Angeles who gets The has been a tremendous work out the rest of her days. to the community,” Glenda Mississippi Link, and she for him. I appreciate the ef- She said, “I will be said. “I often joke with our Piggly Wiggly loves it. She is originally fort he has put into it.” reading my bible and The graphic and warehouse peo- Continued on page 5A from Mississippi. Her advice to the newspa- Mississippi Link till then.” Wattleton Congratulations to The Mississippi Link in these changing times By Ayesha K. Mustafaa consultant. in publishing,” said Minnie most of my career was at the black community that are Staff Writer “Stringfellow has shown an Garrett, editor emerita. Clarion Ledger. older than The Mississippi On the 19th anniversary of interest in the success of The Referring to the founder of “In a venue like Jackson Link, they do not have the The Mississippi Link, Eric Mississippi Link from it’s in- the newspaper, Stringfellow with one of the largest black Link’s economic sophistica- Stringfellow, chair of the de- ception and liberally shared said, “I gave Socrates (Gar- populations percentage wise tion. partment of mass communi- his newspaper publishing rett) my perspective from a in the country, Stringfellow “Newspapers play a critical cation at Tougaloo College, expertise. He devoted hours distance. said, “You need a voice to role in the community, but it sent his congratulations, add- of training to the budding “You can never have too cater to that population and also is about business and ing, “Be stronger.” staff. Even as a novice editor, many strong voices in a place The Mississippi Link fills the about making money. The Stringfellow said his ini- I felt secure in following his like Jackson. I have been a void.” tial relationship with The directives because I trusted consultant to The Mississippi He added that while there Changing times Mississippi Link was as a his professional background Link over the years, although are other newspapers in the Continued on page 5A Stringfellow Curry on Romney Hamer Statue Nobody else is going Share this issue with a friend He supports Obama’s Unveiled to want you. You’re fat by mailing it to: foreign policy Civil rights icon honored “and talk too much. - Funmi Franklin Inside Author and Founder” of TAPS Page 3A Page 3B Page 2B 2A • the mississippi link OctOber 25 - 31, 2012 www.mississippilink.com October 2012 Compiled by Othor Cain s m t W t F s Managing Editor 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 OCT 2012 28 29 30 31 Federal lawsuit OK’d Vicksburg, Murrah Judge won’t delay trial 1against coach accused 2 players suspended after 3 for ex-Jackson officer of whipping players fight on football field payne charged in bribery case A judge has allowed a portion of a federal lawsuit to go for- Vicksburg’s season over; murrah A federal judge has denied a request to delay the trial ward against a former Murrah High School basketball coach who of a former Jackson police officer charged with accepting admitted whipping players with a weight belt and Jackson Public ineligible for playoffs bribes to protect drug shipments. Schools, court officials said. Anthony Ricardo Payne’s lawyer said in asking to delay Cellphone video of the 2010 incident during a basketball practice Vicksburg High School won’t finish its football season and Murrah High the case that she needs more time to review the evidence made national headlines.