Jackson Free Press

The March 5 decision (PDF, 276 KB), which was signed by Justice William L. Waller Jr., rejects Melton's appeal because it must first be brought before the circuit court. "After due consideration, the Court find that the relief in question must first be sought in the trial court," Waller wrote, citing URCCC 1.15. "This Court is without jurisdiction to act while the questions of recusal and stay of the arrest warrant are pending before the circuit court. In re Fordice, 691 So.2d 429 (Miss. 1997). The Court find that the Emergency Application for Extraordinary Relief should be dismissed."

Watch for updates.

Previous Comments

ID

125947

Comment

The Clarion-Ledger just now posted this news. They have an intriguing quote from Tyrone Lewis: "I've been up there, and I've talked to him. There was no indication he plans to be released," Lewis said. "He is still being monitored and observed." So, does he just get to stay there and avoid arrest until he feels like leaving the hospital? Is St. Dominic's going to provide him shelter? What a mess.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-05T18:34:33-06:00

ID

125948

Comment

The precedent is intriguing to think about. The next time a criminal with any degree of money (say, a drug dealer?) violates probation, they just go check into St. Dominic's and stay instead of going to jail.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-05T18:36:06-06:00

ID

125949

Comment

This is getting crazier by the minute. This man will stop at nothing to get his way and continue to skirt the law. When are we going to get off this treadmill??

Author

Kacy

Date

2007-03-05T18:43:54-06:00

ID

125950

Comment

Come on good Sister make the right decision!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-05T18:50:13-06:00

ID

125951

Comment

Actually, this is the man that needs to be spoken to: Mr. Claude W. Harbarger, President St. Dominic Hospital 969 Lakeland Drive Jackson, MS 39216 Sister Mary heads up Health Services. But, I know she has lots of pull!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-05T18:53:04-06:00

ID

125952

Comment

So, we will have to wait another day while they try the Circuit Court route?

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-05T18:56:58-06:00

ID

125953

Comment

wait a second. Danks knows the law. I'm not surprised that this is filed on purpose so they can take another day. Danks knows basic civil procedure and what courts to file this motion. He knew damn good and well you don't go straight to MSC on this motion.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-05T19:04:45-06:00

ID

125954

Comment

I love it when WAPT takes an extra jab after reporting on his "lead" story. They decided to highlight Mary's House now that she is moved in. Of course, they point out Melton bailed on the project.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-05T19:06:38-06:00

ID

125955

Comment

It really is as though the mayor has fled into a church for asylum as royal felons did in the Middle Ages. But even then the law stipulated that sanctuary was temporary. If the person couldn't come to some amicable agreement with the law within 40 days, he had to appear before a judge dressed in sackcloth, confess his crimes and renounce his crown.

Author

Brent Cox

Date

2007-03-05T19:17:09-06:00

ID

125956

Comment

If that's true, Kingfish, does that mean that Danks was frivolously wasting the Supreme Court's time and resources to buy time for the mayor to stay out of jail? Treadmill, indeed, Kacy. As I watched WAPT, I just shook my head at what Melton has done to this city. All of this is his fault. He needs to take responsibility for his own actions and step down. At this point, that is about the only way he could send a positive message for young people he supposedly cares about—that is, show them that no one is above the law. I suspect, however, he will keep hiding in that hospital as long as he can and use as many public resources as he can in court scuffles. I do think he's running out of outs, though. At some point, this chicken is gonna roost. Meantime, the chief is supposedly going to present her "crime plan" tomorrow. Anyone feeling hopeful about that? She also needs to step down, or be fired. She's hopelessly ineffective at her job. It is clear that Melton hired her for one reason, and one reason only—because she wouldn't have the balls to tell him what he could and could not do.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-05T19:52:30-06:00

ID

125957

Comment

Here's a fun tidbit all from Dank's attachments, all. Melton had asked his probation officer for permission to travel to Napa Valley early March 2 for the BMI convention. He had faxed the itinerary to him. Guess who was booked to travel with him the whole time from Friday through tomorrow (March 6)? Yep, you're right. De-armed bodyguards Michael Recio and Marcus Wright.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-05T19:54:18-06:00

ID

125958

Comment

Is it normal to stay in the hospital this long for "observation" due to chest pains? Usually, they send you home with a monitor to record your data... My dad's been in twice and they didn't bother to keep him overnight once they realized it was not something immediate. Of course, Melton did have a double bypass... Just wondering aloud. It's hard for anyone without his/her head in the sand to assume this is a stall tactic... In the case of stalling, how does this fit in the world of medical practice and ethics? I mean, if a doctor is knowingly helping someone stall, and the medical need is not there, isn't that extremely unethical in the field of medicine? Is the corruption spreading into our medical field now? ;-) Again, just thinking aloud.

Author

kaust

Date

2007-03-05T20:02:07-06:00

ID

125959

Comment

Ladd, does the request identify the function Recio and Wright would be serving? I ask partly because Recio and Wright aren't supposed to be acting as the mayor's bodyguards, according to the conditions of their bonds. And also because I'm curious to know if the City was expected to pay for their travel.

Author

Brent Cox

Date

2007-03-05T20:14:14-06:00

ID

125960

Comment

Someone just pointed out to me that Melton will have been in the hospital longer by tomorrow morning than he was for the surgery! So Knol, you may be absolutely right.

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2007-03-05T20:36:28-06:00

ID

125961

Comment

Here's something I was thinking about... Do they run any type of drug tests when you are arressted and thrown into jail? What if this 'hospital stay' is a different type of distraction???

Author

LawClerk

Date

2007-03-05T20:49:34-06:00

ID

125962

Comment

NO

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-05T21:17:39-06:00

ID

125963

Comment

What bothers me is this statement: "There was no indication he plans to be released," Lewis said. Melton, not St. Dominic, is running the show. My opinion: he doesn't have chest pains at all. He's had a panic attack, at most, and is using St. Dominic as an expensive hotel while his lawyers work on getting his warrant dropped. If he's having heart problems, where is his wife? Where are the rest of his family? Why is he surrounded by employees instead of people who supposedly love him? I think Melton's whole life is a scam. He needs to be committed.

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-03-05T21:34:22-06:00

ID

125964

Comment

Dear, there's no evidence his wife's been by his side for the past 20 years. Not much of a marrage, in my book.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-03-05T22:01:34-06:00

ID

125965

Comment

And his wife's a doctor. You would think she would've sat him down and told him that he needs to slow his role while he recovers. But if he doesn't listen to anyone else, then it could be an indicator that he doesn't listen to his wife.

Author

golden eagle '97

Date

2007-03-05T22:38:33-06:00

ID

125966

Comment

I wonder if he's ever even around his wife. Maybe they only tolerate each other if there are a couple of states between them. IG did not leave my side during two c-sections. I'll have to agree with him on this: doesn't sound like much of a marriage.

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-03-05T22:41:06-06:00

ID

125967

Comment

I think he is going to leave the hospital overnight to avoid the media frenzy. Get booked overnight and try to bond out tomorrow by lunch.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-05T23:05:38-06:00

ID

125968

Comment

Brent, I don't have the docs on me, but I think the only mention of Recio and Wright is on the flight itinerary. The three of them were books on an early flight Friday, March, to Dallas and then Oakland, returning tomorrow (Tuesday, March 5). He faxed that on March 1 to his probation officer, along with a multi-page schedule of BMI events. There was certainly no indication why two JPD police detectives, who can't carry weapons, need to be there with him. We'll post some of this stuff tomorrow. There are very interesting things in Danks' attachments. It all became public record when he submitted his motion earlier today.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-05T23:12:49-06:00

ID

125969

Comment

Knol, it seems clear that he is stalling at this point. I mean, he ignored doctor's orders after his surgery, and apparently hasn't quit smoking, either. He may well have had chest pains Thursday when he got the news that the sheriff was coming for him—but at this point, his hospital stay has become quite convenient. I also doubt seriously that they want potential jurors to see Melton in handcuffs within weeks of his very serious trial for all those felonies. He seems to be losing public opinion right when he needs it to be very strong. Watching WAPT just now, one of the funniest phrases I heard came from Ben Allen, I think: He was talking about Melton could "serve while incapacitated." I couldn't help but laugh, but not in a happy way, about the mess this man hasn't gotten this city into. Serving while incapacitated, indeed. Also, there is a letter in his file that he wrote to his probation officer asking them to please take the monitoring anklet off because he didn't want to be embarassed by it while in the hospital in Texas. This man is an incredibly flawed-and-tragic figure. And as someone said to me earlier, he can't point to a single success during his tenure, especially on crime. So any excuses that he's just "trying to do his job" are stupid and hollow. The last thing he wants to do is his job. To be honest, I'm almost more worried about the people he's hired who clearly cannot do their jobs. We don't need those people in place while he sits in jail "serving while incapacitated." I felt a bit sorry for Ben Allen. He looked tired, but he's telling it like it is now. I just wish he'd been doing that all along. I don't think Melton will get him back. The political climate has changed, and Melton did it all himself, with a little help from his friends.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-05T23:20:23-06:00

ID

125970

Comment

"I think he is going to leave the hospital overnight to avoid the media frenzy. Get booked overnight and try to bond out tomorrow by lunch." I'm confused. Can someone who has already posted bond and is out on probation post bond again to stay out of jail? Please advise.

Author

jasp

Date

2007-03-05T23:35:01-06:00

ID

125971

Comment

I don't know? I added that part; but, it makes sense to leave in the middle of the night.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-05T23:36:55-06:00

ID

125972

Comment

I believe the answer is that you cannot post bond after you've violated your bond/probation. That wouldn't make a lick of sense. What's remarkable is that we wouldn't be having such a conversation about most criminals. The reason this case is so important is that Melton has money and power and access to weapons and police departments. And the city is liable for what he impulsively decides to do in the middle of the night. Cases where criminals have power to abuse have to go to the top of the pile because of the potential of so many people being hurt, and the liability of the taxpayers if he's allowed to continue criminal activity unabated. The main point here, I think, is that Melton proved by going to the Upper Level that he has not taken any of this seriously. Not the AG's letter telling him he can't act like the PD. (Could anyone believe that the "interdiction" was Anderson's idea!?!) Not the conditions of his bond. Not the conditions of his probation. I mean, look at him on that Upper Level tape, yelling and wearing a badge around his neck. This is a man who will not learn, and runs a serious risk of hurting himself, others, and costing the taxpayers a shitload of money. We've reached a new level of absurdity at this point.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-05T23:52:40-06:00

ID

125973

Comment

Of course, a huge question for Danks' motion—and maybe the only one that matters—is whether the law requires every probation officer to only enforce any rules laid out in plea agreements. That is, does a probation officer really not have the power to enforce a curfew on a criminal out on probation? If they do in other cases, I don't see where Melton has much hope here. Unless, of course, Mr. Danks is going to lead a campaign to give criminals more rights by setting new precedent that takes aways power from probation officers. My suspecion is that Rev. Grant is doing his job the way he always does, and Melton's attorneys are kicking and screaming about it. Just a hunch. They want special treatment.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-05T23:57:00-06:00

ID

125974

Comment

whats funny is I posted a couple of these threads on another site. Most of posters are conservative. They couldn't believe what Melton was pulling with the police force here and his antics on searches, firearms, etc and wanted to know how he could get away with it. Then they were asking why the chief allowed it and didn't the city charter ban that crap as occurs in other cities. Couldn't believe the chief was that weak.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-06T00:07:36-06:00

ID

125975

Comment

Oh, you mean a real conservative website, Kingfish. I thought you meant that "other" blog here in town!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-06T00:15:46-06:00

ID

125976

Comment

Well, of course they can't believe it. Conservatives believe in upholding the Constitution. You make a good point, though: Why in the world do people in this city let Melton get away with such extreme crap, and then still defend him? That's just Frank. Or, he means well. Or, he has a good heart. These are the same people who don't care what's in most criminals' hearts. Of course, the answer is that for so many years, he knew how to say exactly what many people wanted to hear, and no media questioned him in a substantive way. The media acted like dumbasses over crime, and then somehow decided that his man, with no substanstive plans for fighting crime, or doing anything else, was going to somehow be a good mayor. He has, indeed, done exactly what he promised. The Clarion-Ledger got exactly what it endorsed. It's really precious for them to act now like he's not what they expected. He's certainly what I expected. The only thing that is surprising is how much he manages to get away because so many people are afraid to challenge him. Or who thinks that, somehow, it's OK to be a criminal as long as you are claiming to fight crime. (Did I say "dumbasses" already? Right, I did.) However, that is changing, thankfully. My feeling is that the Supreme Court would have stepped had they wanted to. His political capital is disintegrating. It's "don't go down with the Titanic" time.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-06T00:19:34-06:00

ID

125977

Comment

Yeah, right, pike. I'm so sure N-JAMmers have suddenly starting worrying about people's constitutional rights. Especially poor black people's. They're not real conservatives. They're unhappy people in dire need of attention where they can get it. Melton gave them a little bit a couple years back, and they think they're indebted forever. They haven't figured out that that is what he does to get small-minded people to support him, even as he promotes policies that Kenneth Stokes and Charles Tisdale love a whole lot more. He strokes their egos, and they respond like devoted lapdogs. And they're not smart enough to follow Jeff Good's lead and face reality (not to mention save face while they still can). I mean, look how they lapped up the special name I gave them. They can be played like violins.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-06T00:24:14-06:00

ID

125978

Comment

Ms ladd, it was a website out of state. Knowing me, you can figure out where. However, most of them are professionals and just could not believe a chief would let a mayor pull all these stunts with her cops. For all the crap some on this site give to Reagan, there is one thing you can say, he was not afraid to hire people that were smarter than him (leave the jokes and politics out of it, am speaking from a management standpoint) or were considered experts in their field for the most part. Good leaders aren't afraid of people with backbones that know more than them about a particular issue or subject. I can't see Melton hiring people who would fit that category. I would say Jimmy Heidel probably would but then he was not an employee per se. What is funny is some of those so called N Jammers should read Charles Colson and his thoughts on prison and rehabilitation. Might surprise them.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-06T00:33:51-06:00

ID

125979

Comment

I pretty much agree with everything you say, including about Reagan. And, hell, George W. Bush has made Reagan look like the best president ever! ;-) Seriously, your points here are very good. Melton seems to have one criteria for hiring—folks who won't challenge him. That is the *worst* qualification for leadership. Agreed re the prison-rehab point. That's the problem with N-JAM; they don't even keep up with the scholarship, or the trends, on their perceived spot on the spectrum. Small minds don't think; they follow blindly. Sho nuff. Oh, and this chief is a joke. There is no comparison with the last chief, who had a plan that was working and was accountable to the public (even trying to explain, to no avail, what the dangers of media sensationalism were in raising the public's "perception" that crime was out of control. Look at that—he was even smart. Smart and "arrogant" (meaning confident); we just can't have both those things in a black man who doesn't spend a good part of his time pandering to "conservative" whites and their prejudices. Shirlene Anderson needs to step down, or be fired. Pass it on.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-06T00:47:15-06:00

ID

125980

Comment

and to show I am not just blinded by conservativism, the two best hires Clinton made were Rubin and Panetta. When he hired them his Presidency became stronger. He learned he couldn't micromanage everything or hire only people who were inferior to him. Having said that, I will throw this link out to you. http://www.criminology.fsu.edu/crimtheory/colson.htm I'd recommend scrolling down and starting with this paragraph: Colson is very much on restorative justice. Restorative Justice is a process in which all parties involved in a particular offense come together to discuss how to effectively deal with the aftermath of the offense and its implications for the future. This is an innovative way of thinking about crime and its harm. It repairs the harm done to victims and requires offenders to take responsibility for their actions and the harms caused I think you and other readers will find some of his ideas interesting if you are not familiar with them (and sorry for the poor writing of the student). He is the fair haired boy of Replicans. He does not favor the lock them up and throw away the key approach nor the all criminals are victims and are not responsible for their crimes approach either. back to your N-Jammers. They used to call the JT and Dave show as well as Gallo and raise hell about the Tisdale friday night antics as well as Stokes. I guess they don't mind having them for allies now.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-06T00:57:21-06:00

ID

125981

Comment

I am familiar with restorative justice and believe in it, at least on some level. The lock-em-up folks simply do not have facts on their side when it comes to recividism. Right re the angry ones. We're not talking about the brightest bulbs in the chandelier with those guys. It is really something to see them in a rainbow coalition with Kenneth Stokes—whom I've lost so much respect for now that he is choosing his alliance with Melton over the rights of young people (not to mention homeowners) in his ward. I used to think "the people" were his first concern, even if I didn't agree with everything he did. Now it seems like not angering Melton is all-consuming for Stokes. Sad. Perhaps more bizarre is Tisdale et al's willingness to be allied with Melton's conservative supporters. Word from inside the campaign is that all those "rainbow coalitioners" couldn't stand to be in the room with each other. Talk about an uneasy alliance built on a whole pack of lies.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-06T01:07:12-06:00

ID

125982

Comment

Why are you surprised with Stokes? Well, maybe you haven't been here for his whole tenure. Back in 89 or so he caught hell because it turned out two of HIS rental properties were crackhouses and naturally, he claimed not to know about them. He filed bankruptcy if I'm not mistaken. If I am, my apologies. When Louis Armstrong was City Council President, he and Stokes turned it into a circus. Be glad you missed that one. One time he tried to start a fight with someone after the council meeting. He sought the man out in the hallway and tried to get a fight going. Now he throws himself in bed with melton. For years he has ignored the city council work sessions. He used to take up the council's time with his endless proclomations. When they looked at moving them or trimming the time alloted for them, he raised hell. When you look at his history, are you really surprised at his current actions? As for the lock them up and throw away the key mentality, the justification is that there really are legitimate studies showing that a small subset of criminals are responsible for a much larger proportion of the crimes and that they want to get that subset off of the street, thus resulting in a much lower level of crime. Colson would agree with them on the first part, but he would be more interested in getting that criminal to seek restitution and change the part of him that made him desire to commit a crime in the first place. His attitude would be yes, society is protected from that criminal somewhat when he is in prison, but what are you going to do with him when he gets out and still has the same impulses.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-06T01:18:52-06:00

ID

125983

Comment

Its obvious that FM knew about the curfew as he called and gave various other notices regarding travel and night time variants. So, if he thought it was not legal, or if his attornies believed it was not legal, then why wait until now to do anything. Is it possible that the 2/16 date for removal of the ankle bracelet could have been delayed pending the matter of revocation before the Judge? Also, is it possible that they are setting the stage for inhouse treatment (for behaviorial modification) somewhere? I agree with a previous poster that Danks knew where he should file yesterday and submitted all those papers with his plea for some reason. Gag order or treatment seem to make some modicrum of sense to me. PS: Stokes fought in the hallway with a man wearing a confederate flag. Also, you all are forgetting that Stokes slapped Allen during a Council Meeting. Politics makes some strange bedfellows!

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2007-03-06T07:29:21-06:00

ID

125984

Comment

By Melton's own admission, the conditions of his probation should have been utterly clear to him. He said he did not understand terms of his probation until Jan. 9. That's when Grant sent him a letter which says, in no uncertain terms: The terms of your bond are also the terms of your probation. With one exception, Melton's probation violations came after he got that letter. Regarding Danks and venue, I'm sure he filed with the Supreme Court just to cover all his bases. This is almost proven by the fact that he also filed in circuit court. I am not particularly surprised that the Supreme Court declined to intervene. That was Melton's last chance to avoid jail, it would appear. Melton cannot bond out. He has to sit in jail until his bond revocation hearing. Finally, you're right about Stokes, Kingfish. He did declare bankruptcy--it's on the property rolls.

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2007-03-06T08:05:14-06:00

ID

125985

Comment

Chris: the guy he tried to fight with the flag was Black. Just wanted to clarify so it didn't look like ole Kenneth was fighting a klukker. Thanks Mr B. My source for the crackhouses is CL. It received prominent coverage back then by the paper and he claimed he had no idea of what was going on at his rental properties. Of course, when his boy decides to attack another landlord for something similar, he gets very quiet.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-06T08:09:54-06:00

ID

125986

Comment

I personally think his wife is just his beard - we all have 'em at one time or another. Anyway, to the topic at hand.... WJTV is reporting that the City Council is planning a special meeting today - does anyone know what that might be about? WJTV report

Author

Puck

Date

2007-03-06T08:13:21-06:00

ID

125987

Comment

I believe it is clear that Frank, for all his hoopla & hollering is simply none other than SCARED to death about being locked up! That is understandable, I believe most people would be....however, most people don't go public for 18 months telling the world how they 'hate' crime and that criminal should be behind bars........hello, Frank, YOU ARE NOW a criminal! I was speaking with my husband concerning this matter yesterday and we have come to the conclusion that WHEN Frank is arrested and placed in a holding pattern until he has his probation revocation hearing, he will literally 'ping' out. This man cannot possibly function in a cell, who would he have to feed off of. Frank has made it clear that he has to have an audience.....when you take that away, as well as those remaining 'fawners' which he also requires, you are left with a small man suffering from short man syndrome (my opinion) who will shrivel up. Honestly, my prediction is that when he is placed in his cell, being generous and giving it a week....he will contact Danks, have his negotiate with the D.A. and Green and he will resign his position in exchange for a 'get out of jail free card'! That is my opinion. I certainly could be wrong, but he has proved that he must be surrounded by people, he clearly has no respect for women in authority positions, and the detention center will assuredly have women correction officers advising him when to sleep, eat, shower, etc. After all this time, and although I don't feel like it is fair treatment under the law, I would happily see the mayor resign, obtain his 'get out of jail free card' and LEAVE! As I said, these are just my opinions!

Author

Katie D

Date

2007-03-06T08:55:56-06:00

ID

125988

Comment

Puck, It promises to be quite a City Council meeting at 2 p.m. today, and I remind everyone that these meetings are open to the public. You can even make public comment if you sign up beforehand and wait two or three hours for your turn to speak. Anyhoodle, here's the agenda: SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JACKSON Tuesday, March 6, 2007 2:00 p.m. AGENDA CALL TO ORDER BY THE PRESIDENT INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES 1 - ORDINANCE amending Section 2-336 of the Jackson Code of Ordinances to establish Neighborhood Enhancement Department (Melton, Walker) (3/6/07) REGULAR AGENDA 2 - ORDER authorizing the Department of Administration’s Finance Division to establish accounts necessary for funding of the Neighborhood Enhancement Department (Hill, Walker, Melton) (3/6/07) 3 - ORDER authorizing the amendment of the classification and pay plan to establish the position of Neighborhood Enhancement Director (Crumpton, Melton) (3/6/07) 4 - ORDER authorizing sale of motor vehicles and equipment at public auction on March 10, 2007 (Anderson, Melton) (3/6/07) 5 - ORDER closing Hawkins Field (Stokes) (3/6/07) 6 - RESOLUTION of the City Council of the City of Jackson, Mississippi supporting the establishment of a Burn Center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (Barrett Simon) (3/6/07) 7 - RESOLUTION of the City Council of the City of Jackson, Mississippi declaring the intention of the Council to confirm all interim or acting department directors by order of the Council within one hundred twenty (120) days of their appointment and employment as department head with the City of Jackson (Allen, Barrett Simon, Crisler, and McLemore) (3/6/07) 8 - RESOLUTION of the City Council of the City of Jackson, Mississippi declaring the intention of the Council to confirm Acting Fire Chief Todd Chandler within one hundred twenty (120) days (Allen, Barrett Simon, Crisler and McLemore) (3/6/07) 9 - DISCUSSION: King Edward Hotel Update (Stokes) (3/6/07) 10 - DISCUSSION: Crime Plan (Quality of Life Committee) 11 - DISCUSSION: Representation of the City Council by the City’s Legal Department (Allen, Barrett Simon, Crisler, and McLemore) (3/6/07) 12 - CLAIMS (Hill, Melton) (3/6/07) 13 - PAYROLL (Hill, Melton) (3/6/07) REPORTS FROM MEMBERS, MAYOR OR DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS ANNOUNCEMENTS ADJOURNMENT

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2007-03-06T09:11:25-06:00

ID

125989

Comment

5 - ORDER closing Hawkins Field (Stokes) (3/6/07) What is that about? Its from Stokes, so it probably has no merit

Author

jd

Date

2007-03-06T09:25:43-06:00

ID

125990

Comment

Jaydortch, haven't you heard? Hawkins Field is the #1 distribution center for drugs in Jackson, maybe for the Southeast U.S., perhaps even the entire country! This is one of Stokes' pet peeves and he's finally trying to do something aobut it! Something got to be did! LOL

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2007-03-06T09:28:29-06:00

ID

125991

Comment

ChrisC - Stokes didn't slap Ben, he threaten to "slap the sh*t of him". I could be wrong.

Author

Fitz

Date

2007-03-06T09:38:46-06:00

ID

125992

Comment

oops "out"

Author

Fitz

Date

2007-03-06T09:39:32-06:00

ID

125993

Comment

Stokes is a punk! If you want to see some jack-booted federal thugs crawling around here, just let Stokes, Blunston, et al. close an airport without properly working with the FAA, etc... I think the 120 days in the Chadler case is very weak. So, we will be into the 3rd year before Chandler is given an up/down vote! Having a law that says you must bring forward an appointment within 120 days is great. A bit late, but great. So, is Ben going to fold and vote for the Neighborhood Enhancement Division just to save Ramey's job or force the issue by voting it down?

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-06T09:45:10-06:00

ID

125994

Comment

Why doesn't Stokes just go down and tear up Hawkins Field with a sledgehammer? "I'm not pointing the finger who's right and who's wrong, I'm just saying what's right and what's wrong." Stokes

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-06T09:48:46-06:00

ID

125995

Comment

melton has already violated the terms of his probation. If arrested, he can not have a bond for a bond. This is the whole idea of a probation. Can you follow the directives given to you by a judge and the answer to that question as it relates to melton is NO. Anderson is not standing up to melton because she does not have the skills to serve as the Capitol City's Police Chief. There is nothing in her training that would suggest that. I also agree with those who said that melton hires people who he can control. You would think that some of the hirees such as Pat Fordice, Goldia Reeves and Robert Walker, would have know better. I will give it to Pat: She smelled the rat and got the heck out of Dodge. Reeves worked with melton at TV 3 and knows or should have known that this situation would blow. This is akin to the Anna Nicole story. There were so many people who took advantage of her drug and emotional abuse driven illness. Everyone is getting paid. The City will go broke with the melton hirees trying to keep him in ofice to keep their conforts coming. What a mess!

Author

justjess

Date

2007-03-06T10:30:39-06:00

ID

125996

Comment

still hold up in ST Dominic's....... He gives whole new meaning to the phrase...."Get thee to a Nunnery"......

Author

ATLExile

Date

2007-03-06T11:11:40-06:00

ID

125997

Comment

When the state flag came up missing at City Hall, didn't we find out that Stokes stole the flag?

Author

lanier77

Date

2007-03-06T11:12:19-06:00

ID

125998

Comment

"8 - RESOLUTION of the City Council of the City of Jackson, Mississippi declaring the intention of the Council to confirm Acting Fire Chief Todd Chandler within one hundred twenty (120) days (Allen, Barrett Simon, Crisler and McLemore) (3/6/07)" ....This is hilarious to me! Chandler has been in the position for well over a year, he clearly has done nothing FOR the fire dept. other than bring more negativity to light (Remember the JFD-5), and apparently, if the 'flight' of many of the senior officer's indicates, has lost the respect of those who have been serving the FD for years. NOW the city council is finally going to do something? Little late for nothing in my opinion! I saw previously, a few months ago on another thread, that a vast number of our senior officer's have already left the dept! Same as with the police! I announced approx. a month ago on one of the blogs with JFP after speaking to a friend on the fire dept., that one of the firemen who was suspended, Mr. Johnson, I believe was his name, for violation of the 1st Ammend. Rights fiasco that was instigated by Chandler, has retired from the City of Jackson FD in order to take a position as the FIRE CHIEF in another state. I recently was advised that MANY of the upper level/senior officers have retired and there are still a few who are scheduled to retire this upcoming June! We are being left with a FD who has NO LEADERSHIP.......of course this apparently was Melton's plan as that follows directly in the footsteps of the Police Dept. who has had a large number of officers leaving and going to other depts. also. It clearly shows that Melton has continued thru-out his 18 months to only hire those who are unable or unwilling to stand up to him, and are essentially 'yes men/women!'

Author

Katie D

Date

2007-03-06T11:13:03-06:00

ID

125999

Comment

NOW. This may be a first: Melton’s lead defense attorney Dale Danks Jr. would not comment on Melton’s case this morning. (From Ledger site this a.m.) And I agree with Katie: Both our fire and police departments are in disarray. Public safety is in serious trouble under this administration. Of course, I suspect Mr. Melton likes it that way, and wants constant chaos in order to feel important or something. I've heard talk about a concerned-citizens group forming; I'm surprised this hasn't happened, yet. After all, a group of North Jackson "concerned citizens" formed in order to get Melton elected (and we don't hear peeps out of those folks these days.) It seems time that another form to take its place and help lead us out of this mess and work with the good people on City Council.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-06T11:38:29-06:00

ID

126000

Comment

Well, at least we've learned we don't need more jails in Jackson: we've got plenty of hospitals!

Author

jasp

Date

2007-03-06T12:15:49-06:00

ID

126001

Comment

True, who needs more jail space!?! ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-06T12:18:23-06:00

ID

126002

Comment

Maybe he can try to do this again and hold off Sheriff McMillian. "I'm calling out The National Guard for this 'State Of Emergency'. I'll inform Governor Barbour as a courtesy since he lives here..." He can try and escape via helicopter from the roof...it's a banana republic I tell ya.

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2007-03-06T12:37:31-06:00

ID

126003

Comment

Oh hell...here we go again.... Link to C-L

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2007-03-06T12:41:14-06:00

ID

126004

Comment

so how come crime really has gotten alot worse he has not declared one?

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-06T12:41:51-06:00

ID

126005

Comment

We're "Stopping him from doing his job" Fish. It's a conspiracy I tell you... If we would just let him "Really care about Jackson..." some more, everything would be great. Great! I tell you...

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2007-03-06T12:48:19-06:00

ID

126006

Comment

I need a hug.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-06T12:49:49-06:00

ID

126007

Comment

Yeah Fish... "I'm not your regular kind of mayor..."

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2007-03-06T13:00:05-06:00

ID

126008

Comment

(offers hug to Fish) There, there. The lunacy will be over soon. Until then, catch a nap on this nice school bus headed down I-220... :) I sure hope the lunacy is over soon. Cliff: he certainly isn't a regular kind of Mayor. He's irregular. He needs Immodium. And Paxil. And a bunch of other stuff.

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-03-06T13:20:29-06:00

ID

126009

Comment

Actually, he's already on a shit-ton of medication. We'll post when we get a minute.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-06T13:26:45-06:00

ID

126010

Comment

I'm all for the Sheriff going ahead and taking him in while in the hospital. I think that it is costing the tax payers to either petition the state court or to pay his medical bills for a day or two. I'm sure if he was arrested, he would be released as there is no way he should still be in the hospital. We all know how hospitals work! Let's stop the charade and either release him, arrest him, or file your response Judge Green so the higher court can move on this. We are probably paying 5 or 6 officers to guard this man while at the hospital hiding out. We are paying for Recio and Wright to hang with him too!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-06T13:34:24-06:00

ID

126011

Comment

I find it ironic that frank "hides out" at St. Dominic's. This is the same guy that when he was Director of MBN had people put in various state jails under the charge of "persona non gratta" (there is no such charge and/or statute. Diplomats use the term when a person has been asked to leave an embassy by the host government/country). When I was hearing this in 2003 I just shook my head in disbelief. On another note: In 2002, Sherleen Anderson was nothing but a non-drug evidence custodian at MBN headquarters in Byrum. Where is Joe Jackson (Frank's old "handler" at the FBI) when Frank needs him? Regards, Larry

Author

Larry

Date

2007-03-06T14:21:40-06:00

ID

126012

Comment

melton has already violated the terms of his probation. If arrested, he can not have a bond for a bond. This is the whole idea of a probation. Can you follow the directives given to you by a judge and the answer to that question as it relates to melton is, NO. Anderson is not standing up to melton because she does not have the skills to serve as the Capitol City's Police Chief. There is nothing in her training that would suggest that. I also agree with those who said that melton hires people who he can control. You would think that some of the hirees such as Pat Fordice, Goldia Reeves and Robert Walker would have know better. I will give it to Pat: She smelled the rat and got the heck out of Dodge. Reeves worked with melton at TV 3 and knows or should have known that this situation would blow. This is akin to the Anna Nicole story. There were so many people who took advantage of her drug and emotional abuse driven illness. Everyone is getting paid. The City will go broke with the melton hirees trying to keep him in ofice to keep their conforts coming. What a mess!

Author

justjess

Date

2007-03-07T09:54:36-06:00