Jackson Free Press

Ramie Ford, who Mayor Frank Melton tapped to head up a proposed Neighborhood Enhancement Division, has left city government to become the director of state parks under the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

"I look at it as a promotion," Ford told the Jackson Free Press. "I didn't apply for it or anything, but with all the changes a month or so ago, they called me and said they had this position available. I decided to take the job about 2 a.m. this morning. My last day will probably be in about two weeks."

Ford said the state had called him and offered the job the day after hearing that he had been ousted from his position as director of the city's Parks and Recreation Department.

"I didn't apply for the state position at all, but of course (the media) had it all over the paper, Internet and TV about the changes, so I guess they called me," Ford said.

Ford was highly regarded as director of Parks and Rec, but word came down last month that he was being forced out of his position to make way for Charles Melvin, who worked with Melton at the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics but has no relevant experience beyond his superior athletic ability. Melvin already worked for city government supervising youth hires. The Parks and Rec Department has a $6.6 million annual budget.

On Feb. 1, the Jackson Free Press broke news that Ford and Planning and Development Director Carl Allen were leaving city government.

"I think, personally, Ramie has done an outstanding job as director of parks," Councilman Leslie McLemore said then. "He started this division, and he's brought national recognition to this department. I hate to see somebody that well respected be asked to take on another assignment."

On Feb. 6, shortly after his return from heart surgery in Texas, Melton said that Ford was not leaving city government, though he would no longer head up Parks and Rec. Instead, Melton said, Ford would head up a new division called Neighborhood Enhancement and would also serve as a consultant to Melvin.

"I don't know who's going to train Melvin now," Ford told the JFP today.

Ford said Feb. 6 that though he'd had an inkling of the shift in his position, details were not "finalized" until he met with Melton that morning.

Council President Ben Allen was very disappointed that Ford was leaving, telling the JFP that "Parks and recreation is the only department in this administration that is working with any precision." Allen soughtreassurance from Melton, while the mayor was still recovering from surgery in Texas, that Ford would remain director of Parks and Rec.

"Tuesday, when these rumors surfaced, I spoke to Mayor Melton in his Texas hospital room and was assured that Ramie's replacement was not going to happen," Allen said Feb. 1. "I've received numerous calls from people throughout every walk of life in the city regarding Ramie. Mynelle Gardens representatives for Smith Wills baseball program and scores of others have called me expressing concern about these rumors. I thought I had laid them to rest with a conversation with the mayor on Tuesday. I was stunned this morning when I heard these revelations."

That turnabout from Melton was the last straw for Allen, who has since shifted to vote with council members McLemore, Margaret Barrett-Simon and Marshand Crisler, who form an opposition bloc on council.

"There were some gross, grave misrepresentations made to me, and I saw some things, some character issues that really bothered me. I haven't tried to reach out to him in the last day or two, no," Allen told the JFP on March 2. "I haven't spoken to him personally since the Ramie Ford debacle. I don't put much faith in what he tells me, to be frank."

Allen has also vowed to oppose Melvin's confirmation as director of Parks and Rec. "Mr. Melvin not only does not have the qualifications, he also doesn't have the resume or the ability to even think of being the head of this well-oiled machine called parks and recreation," Allen said Feb. 1.

Several council members have expressed concern that Melton decided to create a new division without consulting the council, which has authority over such changes.

This story has been updated since it was first posted.

Previous Comments

ID

126627

Comment

Figures. He deserved a better job anyway.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-19T10:42:38-06:00

ID

126628

Comment

So he loses his City retirement? That would really suck.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2007-03-19T10:51:39-06:00

ID

126629

Comment

Another good one bites the dust.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-19T10:53:50-06:00

ID

126630

Comment

Hey, but it looks like Bracey Coleman is coming back. Take heart.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-19T10:54:11-06:00

ID

126631

Comment

Jess Lucas, If you move from a City job to a State position, you do not lose your retirement. They are all a part of PERS. Ramie is an excellent choice for State Parks Director. He was one of the few people left from the Johnson Adm. who was doing a great job. It is my opinion that melton made a terrible error in moving him out of a job that he was so well suited for. What else is new? melton continues to be the world's greatest mess-up.

Author

justjess

Date

2007-03-19T11:13:39-06:00

ID

126632

Comment

I don't think he loses his city retirement - they have same retirement system as the state, so it would continue. Hate the City loses him, but good for the State!

Author

JenniferGriffin

Date

2007-03-19T11:14:18-06:00

ID

126633

Comment

we trade Ramie Ford for Bracey Coleman. Grasserly is helping Melton run the damn city. No wonder city government is so messed up. Good job melton, run off a class act like Ford and bring in a dirty cop like Bracey. and what is funny about you melton supporters, you thought you were getting change when isteand you are getting the Harvey Police chief, the city council block that made jackson a joke (smith, armstrong, and Stokes), and the wood street crew working for the city. Yeah, leave melton alone cuz he tries.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-19T11:29:59-06:00

ID

126634

Comment

Well, the Ledge edit boys are at it again. Ramie Ford, director of the city of Jackson’s resurrected Neighborhood Enhancement Division, resigned today to accept a job as director of state parks for Mississippi. Has the Neighborhood Enhancement Division even been formally created yet? Has the Council allocated a budget for that department? Can we get some straight facts from the Ledge once in a while? Notice they don't even tell you about Melvin's lack of Parks and Rec experience or that he worked with Melton at MBN. I know it's a news brief but come on!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-19T11:30:37-06:00

ID

126635

Comment

Sorry Jeff Lucas for printing "Jess Lucas." Bracey Coleman is coming back. According to Tyrone Lewis, Coleman has "expertise in narcotics" and this is the reason that he is being rehired. When asked about his specific training to carry such a title, there was no comment. frank, Sherline and Walker were unavailable. Colemen was give an honorable out through retirement. Why would you hire him back to the City of so many damaged bads?

Author

justjess

Date

2007-03-19T11:31:25-06:00

ID

126636

Comment

I thouht the current chief had "expertise in narcotics." It seems true at this point that Melton is attracted to people with less-than-clean records.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-19T11:34:17-06:00

ID

126637

Comment

Kingfish, you really have a way of trying to muddy waters. There is never a mention of Johnson's police chief, Chief Moore, remember. Coleman was give a big choice: Retire or get your heels to clicking. Johnson did not tolerate this type of foolishness and you know it.

Author

justjess

Date

2007-03-19T11:42:04-06:00

ID

126638

Comment

(I swear The Clarion-Ledger just sits and watches our Web site. We break this story at 11:33 a.m.; they post something quick at 11:51 a.m. I mention that Bracey Coleman is returning to the city above at 11:54 a.m.; they throw something up at 12:19 p.m. And that was old news; WLBT reported it last week. Note, Ledger, how painless it is to give credit where it's due. Shleps.)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-19T11:44:36-06:00

ID

126639

Comment

“I don’t know who’s going to train Melvin now,” Ford told the JFP today. Melton will do it! He wants to do everything else! Mayor, Police Chief, policeman, teddy bear (the hugging thing)...

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-03-19T11:53:06-06:00

ID

126640

Comment

ladd, you guys do the work and they Show and Tell by changing a few words here and there. Where I'm from, we call THEM "COPYCATS."

Author

justjess

Date

2007-03-19T11:53:38-06:00

ID

126641

Comment

$76,000/year does not sound like a starting salary for a person with 0 experience. You would think that the training piece would already be in place. Maybe I'm just stupid but, this whole thing is just plain messed up.

Author

justjess

Date

2007-03-19T11:58:32-06:00

ID

126642

Comment

Yeah, well, look out whenever they use this particular passive: "The Clarion-Ledger has obtained ...." The question is: Where did they obtain it from? They're not the only ones, of course, although we've seen sporadic class out of the TV stations on giving credit where it's due. The Ledger never does that I can see. You wonder why we started watermarking our PDFs? We scratch and claw and build relationships with sources to get these stories out there, and then they jump on them, ask a simplistic question or two, write a short stories filled with passives and cliches, and voila! Yes, I get tired of it, especially from a company that spends it times trying to take over distribution of local publications rather than building a good editor/reporter operation. They can kiss my butt.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-19T11:59:35-06:00

ID

126643

Comment

Maybe I'm just stupid but, this whole thing is just plain messed up. Folks, I've learned a major lesson in my years of reporting. You often have to back up and look at the big picture. Use your logic. Be willing to see what's in front of your eyes. Note the patterns. Find how things connect. That lesson has become the cornerstone of my work, and our work at the JFP. In a nutshell: Be willing to see. Nuff said.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-19T12:01:40-06:00

ID

126644

Comment

Justjess, allow me to clarify. Harvey did select Bracey. My only point is that if you listen to the rhetoric of those who opposed Harvey and supported Melton, they never thought he would've hired so many people from past city governments whom they opposed. For years they complained about City Council being a zoo when Armstrong ran it between, he, Stokes, and Smith. Melton hires them. They supported Robert Johnson and were outraged when Bracey replaced him. Melton hires Bracey. They call in to shows complaining about the crime and gangs in Jackson. Melton puts a gang on his payroll and circumvents the requirements for hiring them. I am merely pointing out the inconsistencies.

Author

Kingfish

Date

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

ID

126645

Comment

Nuff said.

Author

justjess

Date

2007-03-19T12:05:20-06:00

ID

126646

Comment

And you make a good point, Fish, about inconsistencies. I have thought it just precious through all this that the people who yelled the loudest about Stokes are muzzled now that he has more power on Council than he ever has, thanks to his good friend Frank Melton. And I told folks that would happen during the campaign. People were so snowed, thanks to a pitiful media and, we must admit, a willingness to believe in an optical illusion.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-19T12:06:32-06:00

ID

126647

Comment

Didn't Dale Danks represent the woman who made the accusations against Bracey Coleman before he retired? And wasn't the case dropped after Coleman stepped down? Smells funny to me.

Author

thabian

Date

2007-03-19T12:09:37-06:00

ID

126648

Comment

Can I point out how disappointed I am in Marshall Ramsey's Saturday cartoon? Following the lead of his edit-boyz editorial board, I guess, he has turned Peterson, Green and Hood into the "Frank-Hater Section"? Does he understand what the word "hater" means to the general populace? So, now if an elected official tries to enforce the law, and stop some endangering the lives of themselves and others, he or she is labeled a "hater"? He can do better than this. (Or, maybe not. Anyone seen him draw Dale Danks tanning in a lawn chair before? That's Darren Schwindaman's perpetual Danks character. I'm really surprised that Ramsey can't be more original than that, what with all his talent. We've been down this road before.)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-19T12:11:14-06:00

ID

126649

Comment

I don't know, thabian, but it looks like the JFP is going to have to go down the Bracey Coleman, yet. I thought we were fortunate enough to have missed that crap.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-19T12:11:56-06:00

ID

126650

Comment

I think Melton would like nothing better than to be named King of Jackson. That way, he could run the legitimate news reporters/papers/channels out of town. Then he'd have his buddies at the C-L and WLBT and WJTV for the positive spin.

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-03-19T12:12:22-06:00

ID

126651

Comment

Um, Ramsey has been doing that tanning bed schtick for years as well as his predecesor.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-19T12:14:59-06:00

ID

126652

Comment

You mean for Danks? We've never seen it. Have links? Not saying you're not right, but I've never seen it. Nor has Darren. Of course, if he hasn't done it in the last few years, we wouldn't have. Lady, WLBT has shown some improvement, although they're inconsistent on holding his feet to the fire. WJTV and the CL might as well move into 2 Carter's Grove with him. Even when they're pretending to be reporting on him, they balance it out with unfactual rhetoric like when they attacked the D.A. after the gun trial for settling, when she wasn't even involved in it. I just don't believe anything I read there.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-19T12:19:17-06:00

ID

126653

Comment

the Dale Danks/George Hamilton schtick has been used by CL cartoonists for years. No, I don't have a link right now. Would require paying their archives and they only go back a couple of years anway. Its not hard for both of them to independently come up with the same idea when Danks is always soooo tan.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-19T12:25:12-06:00

ID

126654

Comment

I love Ramsey's cartoons; but, he needs to realize that once he creates an image it sticks. And, if he misrepresents that person, no matter how much the press dispels it (if they do), the people will only remember the character. (note: what Ramsey used to think of the Mobile Command Center) Is Ramsey so sure the Judge Green and Jim Hood are actual "Frank Haters?" Couldn't they just "hate" the fact that he is breaking the law Ramsey? Isn't that the first and foremost job of an AG and a DA - to prosecute the law breakers? Isn't it the Judges job to adjudicate the law? Did Judge Green and Hood tell Melton to go to the Upper Level or spend the night with minors? Maybe, I missed that story Ramsey? Satire is a very powerful tool.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-19T12:26:14-06:00

ID

126655

Comment

BTW: I know I used adjudicate wrong... Mind legal not I

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-19T12:29:32-06:00

ID

126656

Comment

Right, 'Fish. It is an obvious joke (as most in good cartoons are). However, that is a recurring character of Darren's lately, and the cartoonist-code indicates that you come up with your own stuff. Darren and I love Ramsey's pasty-badges, but it's not like he's going to suddenly start using them. However, if Ramsey in fact has drawn Danks in the past in a lawn chair getting a tan, then it takes some of the copycat sting off. I'm still surprised he did this now, if so, considering that another popular editorial cartoonist in town is using that character alongside Melton on a regular basis. And I wouldn't pay a red cent to go in those archives, so I see your point there. ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-19T12:29:46-06:00

ID

126657

Comment

Pike: I love paris. Ladd: He will leave characters alone for a while. He used election man recently and its been awhile since he used that line. Danks has not really been in the news until the last few months so he has not been in the line of fire for Ramsey.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-19T12:32:00-06:00

ID

126658

Comment

Pike, I know what you mean. I was disappointed that Ramsey bought so much of the edit-boyz' hype on their misleading "perception" schtick about Johnson and Moore, too. He seems smarter than that. For the zillionth time, folks, those men *never* said that crime in Jackson is a perception. That was yet another optical illusion put out there by The Clarion-Ledger. And they've never apologized for getting that wrong. Ramsey definitely lost my respect with this Saturday cartoon turning law enforcers into "haters." There are going to be so many people with mud on their faces when this thing *really* goes south because so many people enabled Mr. Melton. And good horde of them will be media folks. Mark my words.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-19T12:34:30-06:00

ID

126659

Comment

'Fish, I still want to see them. You have your moments, but you have led us astray more than once.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-19T12:35:17-06:00

ID

126660

Comment

However, when you run through the Ramsey "Melton" cartoons, you see that in general, he was ahead of the rest of the editorial department in recognizing that Frank was rank.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-19T12:35:53-06:00

ID

126661

Comment

True, Pike. Maybe he buys into the debunked "objectivity" myth that media are supposed to balance out "negative" coverage of problem folks by treating their critics in the same way. The old quote-a-Klansman-to-balance-the-NAACP boondoggle.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-19T12:37:56-06:00

ID

126662

Comment

not really and when I've caught the mistake I've owned up to it. Short of getting them from Ramsey or going to Library and digging through archives, I'm not sure. I've been reading CL for 20 years and the suntan deal has been around for a long time. Anyone on this site who has read the editorial page cartoons at the CL for a long time will remember them.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-19T12:38:13-06:00

ID

126663

Comment

I think you will find that most of them at CL use the objectivity myth. They are not supposed to be making judgements and there is not truth, you present both side and let the reader figure it out. I'm oversimplifying but you get the point.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-19T12:40:14-06:00

ID

126664

Comment

Of course I get the point. The problem is, it isn't presenting "both sides."

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-19T12:41:03-06:00

ID

126665

Comment

Charles Melvin, who worked with Melton at the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics but has no relevant experience beyond his superior athletic ability. Excellent summary!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-19T12:41:19-06:00

ID

126666

Comment

leave the brother alone. He can slam dunk a vendor or neighborhood association as good as he can a basketball.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-19T12:47:17-06:00

ID

126667

Comment

by the way, I think he should terminate the contracts of the people who run the tennis pro shops at the city parks and let the wood street gang run them.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-19T12:48:08-06:00

ID

126668

Comment

At some point doesn't he need to cut the Greyhead gang in on some City action?

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-19T13:10:57-06:00

ID

126669

Comment

Well, I certainly wish Ramey and family the very best and know the State of Mississippi will benefit from his expertise. Wonder if T. Lewis will be on the news tonight saying its a 'sad day for Jackson' that Ramey is leaving. Now that would certainly be the truth. Summer programs are just around the corner and Melvin will be putting in 15+ hour days if he wants to attempt to be successful. He's got might big shoes to attempt to fill.

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2007-03-19T13:40:28-06:00

ID

126670

Comment

I'm sorry; but this from WLBT and Melton is ridiculous! Mayor Melton says he plans to keep Ford on as a consultant for the city. He will also keep his job open as Director of Neighborhood Enhancement, just in case he decides to come back. Ya right! Keep dreaming Melton! Keep lying to the public as if your house is in order.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-19T17:35:12-06:00

ID

126671

Comment

He's dancing on red-hot rocks. He's presiding over a certifiable mess down there, and nothing he says can negate that at this point.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-19T17:41:09-06:00

ID

126672

Comment

Chris, I'm going to assume that Mr. Melton put Mr. Melvin there because he thinks he will hire his young people of choice without complaint. You will recall that they both told me last year (when Melvin was over the youth program, which was hiring felons) that all the hires, even through temp agencies, were taking drug tests. That turned out to be yet another untruth. Big picture, folks. Look directly at the sun.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-19T17:43:16-06:00

ID

126673

Comment

Oh, so Melton's new Neighborhood Enhancement Department will be able to run without a Director since he can keep the job open. Just.In.Case! I guess that since it is a combo of Public Works and Parks and Rec. that the two Directors of those departments can carry the extra load until Ramey comes back? LOL! Now with Ramey gone, I'm sure this is the last of the NED we will hear about from Melton. Well, until he needs to fire someone again that is truly a good employee and loved by the City! Sure hope you can hold your ground Councilman Allen. A waffle here, a waffle there will only lead to the next Ramey Ford incident.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-19T17:44:17-06:00

ID

126674

Comment

9:13, Personal note: When I was a little kid my mother told me not to stare into the sun. So once when I was six, I did. 3.14

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-19T17:49:08-06:00

ID

126675

Comment

Donna-- The Fish is right. The Tan Man (Dale Danks) was part of the cast of characters helping the Riddler (Daryl Neely) trying to take down Election Man (Harvey Johnson) in Marshall Ramsey's 2001 mayoral election cartoons.

Author

Ex

Date

2007-03-19T19:48:10-06:00

ID

126676

Comment

I never met Ford, but I knew him as the sunburned-faced man who tirelessly informed the City Council about the progress of Parks and Recreation. Council had nothing but praise for him, and to me he appeared to be one of the few competent department heads. Melton's machinations and cronyism hurt the city once again.

Author

Brent Cox

Date

2007-03-19T19:49:50-06:00

ID

126677

Comment

You can also check out Marshall Ramsey's Greatest Hits cartoon book (published in 2002) for verification. If you don't have a copy, it's available at Welty. Look in the section concerning Election Man.

Author

Ex

Date

2007-03-19T19:52:42-06:00

ID

126678

Comment

The cartoonist before Ramsey also would do something similar when Danks ran against Mike Moore. I love paris.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-19T21:09:19-06:00

ID

126679

Comment

I see the Ledge quotes more from Melton this morning about Ramey Ford - the Consultant. Melton said he will retain Ford's services on a contract basis to oversee projects at the Jackson Zoological Park, Mynelle Gardens and others. Melton said Ford's position with the new department will be filled by someone already working within city government. But the mayor said he won't appoint anyone permanently for six months. "The reason I'm doing that is because if Ramie gets over there and he is not satisfied ... he can come back," Melton said. LOL! Why do you need Ramey to help with the Zoo and Mynelle Gardens? Isn't your guy Melvin up to the task? Guess not if we have to pay an outside consultant to come in and help him! Melvin needs to draw on that superior athletic prowess that he has to tackle these new challenges he will have as a Director of a $6.6 million dollar department. Having worked at MBN (especially with Melton!), he should be able to spot kids who could become great law enforcement officers in the future like a baseball or basketball scout! Oh yeah, don't hold your breath that Ramey will be back anytime soon Melton.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-20T06:18:05-06:00

ID

126680

Comment

what kind of CEO holds open a dept head position in case the guy wants to come back?

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-20T06:43:39-06:00

ID

126681

Comment

what kind of CEO holds open a dept head position in case the guy wants to come back?

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-20T06:43:39-06:00

ID

126682

Comment

George Steinbrenner's reign over the Yankees in the 1970s and 1980s comes to mind what with his fascination over hiring and firing Billy Martin again and again and again and again...

Author

Ex

Date

2007-03-20T07:00:15-06:00

ID

126683

Comment

Better yet, I see Bracey had to pay a fine over stalking/harrassment a few years ago.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-20T07:02:35-06:00

ID

126684

Comment

The mayor is still at it with department heads. From Goliath: But the mayor said he won't appoint anyone permanently for six months. This just a week after City Council passed a resolution reminding the mayor that department heads must come before council for confirmation within 120 days whether they are permanent or temporary. I am surprised council members don't have big purple bruises on their foreheads from banging them over and over and over and over again against the Melton wall.

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2007-03-20T08:36:51-06:00

ID

126685

Comment

Kingfish, You asked, "what kind of CEO holds open a dept. head position just in case the guy wants to come back?" ANSWER: A CEO who does not know he A$$ from a hole in the ground. I keep saying this, over and over: melton has gone too far, too fast with too little.

Author

justjess

Date

2007-03-20T09:30:07-06:00

ID

126686

Comment

Why are the City Council persons having such a hard time deciding on paying bills from temp. agencies; more specifically, the invoices that are without names and other pertinent information. This is so simple for me. If the invoice does not have the required/requested information, the bill is not paid. This is the way of the world. It seems that something is just not right with this issue.

Author

justjess

Date

2007-03-20T09:44:19-06:00

ID

126687

Comment

Does FM ever stop lying? Why is he holding the position open? He already moved Ramey out and had him in another position. Now he's planning on keeping the position open for him---what an idiot. Or better still he (FM) thinks the general public is stupid. I have never seen the likes of anything like this before in my life. I am embarrassed and ashame of what's going on in this city. Ramey did an outstanding job in parks and recreation, no one can challenge that. He is the last of "good" department head we had left. Can we please do something about this madman running (ruin) our city

Author

maad

Date

2007-03-20T09:46:14-06:00

ID

126688

Comment

Well, I guess this means Mynelle Gardens will just shrivel up and die. Sad.

Author

blu_n_a_redstate

Date

2007-03-20T10:25:26-06:00

ID

126689

Comment

Its been dying for years.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-20T10:30:06-06:00

ID

126690

Comment

Thought it was already dead...

Author

colby

Date

2007-03-20T10:53:37-06:00

ID

126691

Comment

Jess Lucas, If you move from a City job to a State position, you do not lose your retirement. They are all a part of PERS. Ramie is an excellent choice for State Parks Director. He was one of the few people left from the Johnson Adm. who was doing a great job. Thanks, justjess., I should have known that, and my wife also said the same thing when I asked her. I only met Mr. Ford once during the Johnson era but I often saw him in passing at the Hood Building. My co-workers who used to work with him at the City have nothing but good things to say about him and one of them was pretty ticked off about Melton's thinly disguised trick to force him out of the City.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2007-03-20T10:58:49-06:00

ID

126692

Comment

Here is the Melvin story in a quick few lines: In early 2002, Melvin resigned MBN because he had been given an appointment to attend DEA’s Basic Agent Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Yes, if he passed the academy, Melvin was going to become a DEA agent. The MBN director at the time, Don "Donnie I arrested Timothy Leary” Strange was upset with Melvin for not "ratting" out one of his partners in an MBN internal affairs investigation. MBN didn't suspect Melvin but believed Melvin knew what alleged crimes his partner was committing. When Melvin refused to cooperate with the MBN internal affairs investigation Strange, who had been a former DEA agent and had retired as the Deputy Chief of Intelligence (number four in the DEA hierarchy) had Melvin's "appointment" or his employment offer rescinded. When Melton took over MBN Melvin was reinstated. Melvin is certainly one of "Frank's" men. Bracey Coleman is also a known Frank supporter. It should be noted that it was Sheriff McMillan that gave Coleman a deputy job and assigned Coleman to MBN, not Frank. Maybe Frank requested Coleman from McMillan. I don’t know. Maybe someone should ask Sheriff McMillan? In his years in law enforcement Coleman may have worked narcotics a time or two but I don't think he has ever managed the day to day operations of a "fully functioning" narcotics unit (minimum 12 officers, 2 intelligence analysts, 1 secretary, 1 file clerk, 1 receptionist and 1 Assistant District Attorney). Oh bye the way either has Chief Anderson! Regards, Larry.

Author

Larry

Date

2007-03-20T13:00:17-06:00

ID

126693

Comment

Bracey may not have run a unit per se but he he did used to be a narc.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-20T13:04:14-06:00

ID

126694

Comment

The JPD narcotic's unit needs more than Barcey. It needs 10-20 more officers, 2-3 intelligence analysts, TRAINING and funding funding funding!

Author

Larry

Date

2007-03-20T13:07:34-06:00

ID

126695

Comment

Kingfish & Colby, The Westbrook House at Mynelle Gardens has been restored now for several years. It was remodeled under the Johnson Administration. Again, a project handled by Ramey. The impact of the loss of Ramey will be obvious this Spring and Summer when you see the lack of service to the parks

Author

maad

Date

2007-03-20T13:57:57-06:00

ID

126696

Comment

my friend's daughter was married there last year. maad, you are right, this was one of Ramey's special interest projects. I'm sure that melton has not thought about this and probably doesn't know all of the places that are under parks and recreation. Day by day it is becoming more and more evident of what we loss in the Johnson Administration. He was positioned high on the wall and frank and the meltionites pushed him down and scattered pieces of his work everywhere. They just couldn't stand to have a capable person with good work ethics and a wealth of knowledge and training in that position. So they pushed him off the wall. Just like humpty-dumpty, frank could not put the city of Jackson back together again. All of his puzzle pieces are now misfits. When he finishes connecting parts that don't fit, Jackson will look, smell and feel like Iraq after a suicide bomber strikes. He pushed him off the wall! melton is an accident - Always going someplace to happen.

Author

justjess

Date

2007-03-20T14:23:12-06:00

ID

126697

Comment

What I din't tell you was: He (JOhnson) landed on his feet.

Author

justjess

Date

2007-03-20T14:24:20-06:00

ID

126698

Comment

I stand corrected. It also got a lot of bad pub when Felder dissassociated himself with MG.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-20T16:48:22-06:00

ID

126699

Comment

maad wrote, "Kingfish & Colby, The Westbrook House at Mynelle Gardens has been restored now for several years. It was remodeled under the Johnson Administration. Again, a project handled by Ramey. The impact of the loss of Ramey will be obvious this Spring and Summer when you see the lack of service to the parks" Like I said. I guess this means Mynelle Gardens will just shrivel up and die.

Author

blu_n_a_redstate

Date

2007-03-21T07:31:41-06:00

ID

126700

Comment

"Melton is an accident - Always going someplace to happen." That's a great slogan justjess! You should make it into a bumper sticker to use during the next mayoral election---against Frank.

Author

blu_n_a_redstate

Date

2007-03-21T07:41:43-06:00

ID

126701

Comment

Brian pointed something out to me yesterday: Isn't it absolutely absurd that Johnson was belittled for too much planning??? There truly are some idiots out there. We've got to work around them, though, or educate them that, er, mayors are supposed to plan, not act like some bad vigilante character in a B-movie.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-21T10:01:41-06:00