Security

Today's Clarion Ledger has this article about neighborhoods hiring private security. An excerpt:

Other neighborhoods with long-established private security, such as Eastover and Belhaven, also have upgraded their level of service to full-time, with at least one guard on duty at all times. Many residents said the consistent presence of a guard makes them feel more secure.

John Lewis, president of the Belhaven Security Association, said residents probably make seven to eight calls for security a day. But that doesn't mean they are all in regards to serious crimes.

"Many are house checks or walk-ins (when a guard escorts a homeowner inside)," he said.

But other common calls are for car burglaries and suspicious people. About six months ago, a call about two men walking down a Belhaven street - one was carrying a chainsaw - resulted in the recovery of stolen property, Lewis said. "The guard quizzed them and found they had picked (the chainsaw) up out of somebody's garage," he said.

Water Quality

Jackson is flushing its water pipes to clear out the water clouded by chemicals used to treat algae at the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant. Most of the city's water has seen marked improvement but the bad water lingers in Belhaven and Northeast Jackson. Full story in today's Clarion Ledger.

UPDATE: "Jackson Public Works officials are encouraging people to continue to call about water quality problems as workers flush the city’s water lines this week. Public Works Director Thelman Boyd said flushing has led to improvement in the color, taste and odor of tap water in northeast Jackson and Belhaven. But he suspects there are residents in other areas who may have complaints....Residents should contact Public Works at (601)960-2723."

ATVs on the Pearl

WLBT reports on the ATVs on the Pearl and interviewed Belhaven resident Peter Casano. (Full Story Here)

Mike Peters and McDades

Sunday's Clarion Ledger featured the developments of Mike Peters in Fondren but notes: "Peters is responsible for renovating The Plaza Building in downtown Jackson and also owns English Village, the local shopping center in the Belhaven neighborhood where he lives." (Full Story Here)

Tuition Increase

Today's Clarion Ledger features a story about local private colleges and tuition increase: "In the Jackson area, the increases vary from about 1.7 percent at Mississippi College to 5 percent at Tougaloo College and Belhaven College to 6 percent at Millsaps College. Last week, Mississippi's eight public universities announced tuition increases averaging 6 percent, with students on some campuses to pay $165 to $328 more a year, the ninth increase in a decade." Full Story Here

Carson Whitsett

Carson Whitsett, a legendary musician from Jackson who attended Millsaps and Belhaven colleges, has passed away. Read Billy Watkins' piece in today's CL.

Blazer finalist for Ferriss trophy

Belhaven College's Thomas Royals of Hattiesburg is one of three finalists for the 2007 Ferriss Trophy, given to the state's top college baseball player. The award will be presented May 21 in Cleveland, home of its namesake, Dave "Boo" Ferriss. The ceremony will be broadcast live by Mississippi Public Television.

Other finalists are Mississippi's Zack Cozart, Mississippi State's Ed Easley.

For the full story read the AP story here or the Hattiesburg American story here.

Rockwell images at Belhaven College

From the Clarion Ledger: "Boy Scout images by famed illustrator Norman Rockwell, his successor Joseph Csatari and other artists will be featured over three days at a Belhaven College gallery. The Andrew Jackson Council of the Boy Scouts of America will host the BSA Foundation Art Tour Trail to Eagle on Wednesday through Friday at the Bitsy Irby Visual Arts and Dance Building, 1500 Peachtree St. on the Belhaven campus.Hosted by the Andrew Jackson Council of Boy Scouts, the show is open to the public 4:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Thursday and 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday. It’s free.For information on a donor’s seminar, reception and private showing Thursday, call the council at (601) 948-6111."

Sherry Lucas writes 'Trail to Eagle' Scout exhibit features Rockwell originals in the Clarion Ledger here.

LeFleur Lakes report completed

The Northside Sun writes: The report of a $2.8 million feasibility study conducted to evaluate cost and environmental impact of the LeFleur Lakes project, also known as Two Lakes...has been “essentially” completed, said Frank Worley, public affairs officer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is compiling the results of the different components of the study into one report. “We’ve got to do some final coordination with the local sponsor and then at that point, after that coordination is complete, then it would be released,” he said. The local sponsor, the Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District (levee board) will be meeting and the release of the report will come after they decide in which direction to head, Worley said....According to published reports, estimates show that building the lakes will cost $1.4 billion. At that cost the project will never be built, said oilman John McGowan who envisioned the original concept for LeFleur Lakes. McGowan said he could not comment on the cost further because he has not seen the report. Read the full story here.

Blazer baseball out of the tourney

Clarion Ledger: Belhaven's hopes of an NAIA World Series berth ended Thursday with an 8-7 loss to Southern Polytechnic at Smith-Wills Stadium, eliminating the Blazers from the Region XIII Tournament. Belhaven (44-17), which hosted the tournament, carried a 7-6 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning. But closer Matt Lawrence surrendered a two-run walk-off single to Rick McRae. Read the full story here.

Blazer vision

Great article in the Clarion Ledger today about Hill Denson, baseball coach at Belhaven College. Read it here.

Erin and Katrina

Laurel Leader Call: Nan Sugg's first children's book entitled “Erin and Katrina” is one little girl’s view of the storm far inland from the coast where the storm did its worst damage. The story was inspired by what the author experienced in the Belhaven area of Jackson.

Brent's Drugs

Brent's Drugs in Belhaven will no longer be filling prescriptions and may see a change in business in after August. Read more here.

Blazer Baseball

Hattiesburg American: "Belhaven’s Thomas Royals was named the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference baseball Player of the Year and Belhaven’s Hill Denson was named the GCAC Coach of the Year Tuesday night." Full Story

Belhaven Prof on State Health Board

AP: State officials on Wednesday announced who will serve on a reconstituted state Board of Health which includes Elayne Hayes-Anthony of Madison (appointed by Barbour for a term ending June 30, 2013). Hayes-Anthony is chairwoman of the communications department at Belhaven College in Jackson. Full Story Here.