Jackson Free Press

Residents in south Jackson are working feverishly to make sure their neighborhood doesn't become a food desert when the Kroger on Terry Road closes later this month.

Last week, the Cincinnati-based supermarket chain announced that the store would close on Feb. 28 after 24 years in operation. In a statement to WJTV, a Kroger spokeswoman called shutting the store a "hard decision," but added that 109 employees would be offered positions with other Kroger stores in the area.

Jackson residents decried the move, calling the Kroger one of the only grocers in that area. Food Depot, on the corner of Terry Road, also serves the area. Tyrone Hendrix, who represents south Jackson's Ward 6 on the city council, said shoppers are considering an online campaign to convince Kroger to reconsider. Hendrix added that Kroger is vital to the city's tax base as well.

"Kroger leaving south Jackson isn't just a south Jackson issue," Hendrix said.

In the meantime, Hendrix and other community leaders are talking to several grocery chains hoping to lure one of them to Jackson after Kroger shuts its doors. However, he declined to name the companies.

"We're going to continue to fight," Hendrix said.

Area Hospitals Form Merit Health

Six hospitals and 36 affiliated clinics in and around the Jackson and Vicksburg area, all purchased by Community Health Systems a year ago, have joined into a single regional healthcare system called Merit Health. The member hospitals are Central Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, River Oaks Hospital and Woman's Hospital in Flowood, Crossgates River Oaks Hospital in Brandon, Madison River Oaks Medical Center in Canton and River Region Health System in Vicksburg.

The combined system has more than 1,200 licensed beds, 3,300 employees and 1,800 physicians on active medical staff. Ownership of the hospitals and related clinics remains the same, and none of the hospitals are planning changes in services or physician bases.

Officials with the newly formed system said in a release that the move will enable the addition and development of important services at the member hospitals and expand access to primary and specialty care across the central Mississippi region. 
 New signs are going up, and each hospital will have celebration events on Feb. 9 at 11:30 a.m. at the campus of each hospital. The public and media are invited to attend.

Nissan Mississippi Sales for January

Nissan of Mississippi reports high sales for the month of January thanks to increased consumer confidence and low gas prices, as well as the launch of the new Maxima model that debuted in an ad that aired during this year's Super Bowl, a statement from the company announced today.

In addition, the Nissan Division set a January record with 94,449 sales, an increase of 15.9 percent, and sales of the Altima midsize sedan set a January record at 26,408, up 17.3 percent.

With the 2015 Murano now available in dealer showrooms, sales of the model increased 74.1 percent in January, Frontier sales rose by 19 percent to 5,868 units and sales of the NV increased by 41.4 percent to 1,059 units.