Jackson Free Press

The recently opened Standard Life building will soon have a New York-style grocery store and deli. Gwin Wyatt and her husband, Frank, decided to open the store after her daughter, Brooke Wyatt-Kuhne, moved into the King Edward Hotel while serving as the artistic director of International Ballet Competition in Jackson this summer.

Wyatt said she hopes the store will open by the end of the year. With approximately 1,800 square feet, the store will stock grocery basics and feature a deli with sandwiches, soups, salads, dessert and pastries.

Wyatt is modeling the store after corner stores in New York City. "In New York, every corner has mom and pop grocery stores, and they call them bodegas," she said. "Basically this is the same thing. They just carry all the basis grocery needs and have a deli sections with items that are ready made to eat."

King Edward Wins National Award

Next week, the National Trust for Historic Preservation presents the King Edward Hotel with its Preservation Honor Award during its 2010 National Preservation Conference in Austin, Texas.

"From ruin to renaissance: That is the story of the King Edward Hotel," said Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation in a statement. "Historic preservation is a powerful tool for revitalizing communities, and there is no better example of that than the rebirth of Jackson's landmark hotel."

The hotel is one of 23 national award winners. The winners of the National Preservation Awards will appear in the January/February issue of Preservation Magazine and online at http://www.PreservationNation.org/awards.

Councilman Announces Prescription Discount Program

On Oct. 6, Ward 6 Councilman Tony Yarber announced a program for Ward 6 residents to receive discounted prescription drugs through a partnership with the National League of Cities' Prescription Discount Card program.

The discount card comes at no cost and allows citizens to receive a 20 percent discount on their prescription drugs. Yarber said the cards will be available at CVS and Walgreens drug stores in his ward, as well as Richard Wright Public Library and Marshall Elementary School. Yarber said he also would also make the cards available at City Hall. 

Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. said his staff was looking into making the program available citywide.

Jackson Blues Marker Unveiled

Scott Radio Service Company, one of the state's first businesses to offer professional recording technology, is now part of the state's blues trail.

Yesterday, The Mississippi Development Authority, the Mississippi Blues Commission and the Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau will unveiled a historic marker honoring the company that recorded music for blues legends such as Sonny Boy Williamson and Elmore James from 1950 to the early 1970s. The marker is located at the corner of Gallatin and Capitol streets. The company was originally located at 128 N. Gallatin Street but moved to 601 W. Capitol Street in 1952. This is Jackson's 10th blues marker.