Jackson Free Press

WHY: The event is being called in response to growing concerns of members of the Jackson community about allegations of improper conduct and abuse of mayoral and law enforcement authority made against Mayor Frank Melton and the Jackson Police Department. The Magnolia Bar joins with scores of local residents and its members in calling for official investigations on local, state and federal levels.
Join us for our press conference. A formal statement will be issued to the press and the community.

Concerns have heightened throughout the Jackson community following recent alleged incidents that occurred at the Upper Level Nightclub and those that led to the destruction of private property. The Magnolia Bar urges all agencies responsible for providing protection and ensuring the safety of all citizens to act now to answer all allegations and conduct transparent and fair-minded investigations.

Previous Commentsshow

Good!

Ray Carter

Sep 11 2006

I am happy to hear of your position in such an important matter. It will definitely take the "Village" to deal with these issues.

justjess

Sep 11 2006

Melton has been the second rendition of Houdini for the past fourteen months. Now it looks like he has lost that magic touch. I repeat........Could this be the begining of the end?

lance

Sep 11 2006

**...Could this be the begining of the end?** < -- lance Let us pray that it is the end! This madness has gone on long enough!

Kacy

Sep 11 2006

It really saddens me though for this to be taking place. The focus has shifted from fighting crime to discussing the future of the city's mayor because of his alledged criminal acts, which are too numerous to mention. I don't know if there is an easy way to deal with this without it becoming more of the center of attention than it already is. Melton has lost his creditibility with the citizens. Before this really blows up into somthing of epidemic proportions (I know it already seems that way), I hope that Melton has a shread of common logic left and will entertain the possibility of stepping down. This will enable the city to move forward with someone else and put this horrible chapter behind us.

lance

Sep 11 2006

Agreed Kacy. It has certainly taken a toll on everyone. The criminal element is having a field day though. They are simply taking notes of how far they can go and get off of the hook. We (the city of Jackson) desperately need a fresh start to begin the healing process.

lance

Sep 11 2006

Looks like our buddy Bob Hickingbottom -- aka The Garbageman -- has re-emerged in the wake of this scandal. From the Ledge's article about the Magnolia Bar press conference: Bob Hickingbottom, a city consultant hired by Melton, said many in the bar group had personal and political agendas and wanted to see Melton driven from office. Acknowledging Melton faces troubling issues, Hickingbottom said the mayor will not leave office. "We like Frank's chances if he goes to court. He's simply not going to resign," Hickingbottom said. "It's not going to happen." It strikes one that, at this point, there are way too many people criticizing Mr. Melton for Hickingbottom to go around and personally trash every single one of them. But maybe they're runnng out of other games. Let the trash talk begin.

DonnaLadd

Sep 12 2006

I attended the 9am meeting with the ACLU, NAACP and other entities from the City to include lawyers and residents. It went really well! Stephanie Parker-Weaver was walking around like the designated officer, assigned to kick but and take names. I sensed a lot of discomfort because Stephanie knows better. Of all of the people in FM's camp, she (Parker-Weaver) comes with first hand information on Civil Rights because her adopted father, Attorney Frank Parker, now deceased, played a major role in the representation of the down-trodden. This is the population that FM feels so comfortable with violating. I know that a formal report will be given by journalist from the JFP but I had a need to put in my two cents, especially with seeing Bluntson and Stokes trying so hard to keep the abuse of power and other issues from being discussed. That Bluntson is not worth two dead flies. You would think that a person who had gone through the kind of wrong doings that he participated in and was allowed to walk away from, would use the last half of his life as a steward of the law. I don't do well in groups like this so after Stokes said to the council that "You would have to be a damn fool not to know a crack house when you see one," I took my leave. He was trying to justify fm's correctness identification of houses to be destroyed. McLemore, Chrisler and Simone were trying to deal with due process an the need for citizens to be heard today. Stokes wasn't hearing this. Ben Allen was trying to stay safe on the fence. I hope that they didn't have to call 911 after I left. (smile -yet serious).

justjess

Sep 12 2006

justjess, you made some very good points. I'll leave it there.

DonnaLadd

Sep 12 2006

Isn't James Evans a member of the Magnolia Bar Association also? I don't remember seeing him there. I would only hope that his wife Sarah in her official capacity and as a citizen would advise Melton that this is blowing up bigger than life and he should consider the possibility of resigning. IMO he STILL needs to be brought up on charges, but if he resigns, mayby he would have an easier time trying to convince a judge that he is remorseful.

lance

Sep 12 2006