Jackson Free Press

Officials in Jackson and across Mississippi are canceling or delaying major events and gatherings in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The following is a list of cancelled events as the Jackson Free Press learns of them.

MDPS Driver License Stations

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety announced that all DPS Driver Service Bureau driver license stations will be closed to the public except for District Troop Stations across the state until March 31. The 9 MHP District Troop Stations will only provide sex offender registry transactions, commercial driver license card renewals and commercial driver license medical card updates. Online transactions are available for other services at dps.ms.gov.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi has closed all four of its Club locations and will stop all after-school activities for the unforeseen future.

West Central Jackson Improvement Association

The monthly meeting of the West Central Jackson Improvement Association has been cancelled for March 19.

City of Jackson Events

The City of Jackson Department of Parks and Recreation Programming Division has cancelled the Flipping Out Tumbling event scheduled for April 25 at George Kurt's Gymnasium, the city Easter Egg Hunt scheduled for April 11 at VA Legion Softball Complex and the Praise Dance Explosion event scheduled for March 21 at Thalia Mara Hall.

Madison County Chamber Clay Shoot

The Madison County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors made an executive decision to postpone the Madison County Chamber Clay Shoot scheduled for Tuesday, March 24, at Turcotte Shooting Range. The event will be rescheduled ASAP. Those who have paid to participate will have their payments applied to the upcoming Clay Shoot or a future Chamber event.

Lemuria Books

The Jerry Mitchell Event with Reena Evers-Everette on Wednesday, March 18 at Lemuria Books has been postponed until further notice. Customers can still order a signed first edition here for curbside pickup or ship-out.

Metro Jackson Race for the Cure

The Susan G. Komen Foundation has decided to reschedule the 21st annual Komen Metro Jackson Race for the Cure event scheduled for Saturday, April 25, to an undecided date later this year.

Salvation Army of Jackson

To prevent the spread of infection at its Center of Hope, the Salvation Army of Jackson has implemented additional cleaning throughout the day and is providing readily available sanitation supplies to staff and residents.

To follow CDC recommendations, the organization has cancelled all community center programs for the next two weeks. Salvation Army will still supply boxed meals to all youth and seniors who ordinarily use these programs.

Salvation Army of Jackson is also requesting donations of shelf stable food, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes and toilet paper. Donations can be dropped in a bin in the lobby of the organization's administration building at 110 Presto Lane.

Women for Progress

Women for Progress has postponed a film discussion on "Mississippi Justice Then and Now" at the Civil Rights Museum scheduled for March 17 and a lunch honoring Sen. Hillman Frazier at Manship Wood Fired Kitchen scheduled for March 19.

NAMI Mississippi

Until further notice, NAMI Mississippi's state office will be operating at a reduced capacity, meaning that fewer staff members will be on site at a time to practice social distancing. In most cases, only one staff member will be in the office at a time. Call ahead at 601-899-9058 to confirm that someone is in the office before coming by. If the office closes due to a shelter-in-place mandate, NAMI will send a notice via e-newsletter and social media.

Some support group meetings may be held via conference call instead of in person. As of now, upcoming special events beyond April 2020 have not been rescheduled, but that could change.

The Path to Recovery Crash Course for Central Mississippi and Coastal Mississippi will both be held via conference call. If you have registered for the March 28-29 class in Jackson or for the April 18-19 class in Gulfport (registration open through April 4), you will receive an email with the conference call information, etc. Email any general concerns to [email protected]. Otherwise, your class leaders can be contacted to assist you with specific issues. Contact information will be provided via Eventbrite email.

Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership

Due to the rapidly developing COVID-19 virus situation, the Greater Jackson Chamber team will be working remotely for the remainder of the week. Please note all Chamber events through the end of the month also have been postponed or cancelled.

You still may reach out to the following email addresses with any questions or concerns:

Jeff Rent- [email protected]

Cynthia Buchanan- [email protected]

Debi Green- [email protected]

Fratesi's

Fratesi's has closed until further notice.

Walker's Drive-in, CAET, Local 463 and Parlor Market

Walker's Drive-in, CAET, Local 463 and Parlor Market will all close after lunch on Friday, March 20.

Refill Cafe

Because of the coronavirus, Refill Cafe has made the decision to end training with its current cohort and close the cafe effective Tuesday, March 17. The cafe will resume its training program and normal business hours as soon as public health authorities say that it is safe to do so.

Mangia Bene Restaurant Group

Mangia Bene announced that it is temporarily closing Sal & Mookie's, Bravo! and Broad Street until further notice. Customers can purchase digital gift cards here to support the restaurants in the meantime.

Godfrey's Caribbean Restaurant

Godfrey's will be closed beginning Monday, March 23.

Cultivation Food Hall

Cultivation Food Hall has changed the hours of most of its restaurants to noon to 7 p.m. Honey and Atlas will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Poke Stop will be open 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Yuzu Ramen will be closed on Tuesday, March 17. Cultivation is also taking extra precautions, including having staff wear gloves and frequently wipe down all restaurants and restrooms. For more information, visit cultivationfoodhall.com.

Sugar's Place

Sugar's Place in Jackson has temporarily closed.

4Top Hospitality Group

4Top Hospitality Group, owner of Amerigo, CHAR, Sombra, Anjou, Saltine and more, announced a number of event closures at its restaurants for March. Event closures include:

Anjou Mystery Dinner Theater 3/28

Amerigo Ridgeland Wine Dinner 3/24

Amerigo Flowood Murder Mystery Dinner 3/16

Saltine Jackson St. Paddy's Takeover Tuesday 3/17

Saltine Jackson Post Paddy's Brunch 3/29

Char Murder Mystery Dinner 3/30

Campbell's Bakery and Campbell's Craft Donuts

As of Wednesday, March 18, Campbell’s Bakery in Madison, Campbells bakery in Fondren and Campbell’s Craft Donuts will suspend operations. Customers with an order going out this week at the bakery will be able to pick it up first. Campbell's will also provide hot breakfast for school children whose schools have closed throughout the rest of the week. When Campbell's passes out the last breakfast on Friday all three locations will close until further notice.

Crazy Cat Eat Up

Crazy Cat Eat Up will close for the near future. It's sister restaurant, Geraldine and Esma's Kitchen, which concentrates on prepackaged to-go meals, will remain open.

Hal's St. Paddy's Day Parade

The Hal's St. Paddy's Parade and Festival in Jackson has been canceled in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, parade co-founder Malcolm White told local news outlets Wednesday, March 11.

Fondren Fitness

Fondren Fitness will be closed for the next few weeks in lieu of the crisis going on with COVID-19 and will re-open as soon as it is determined that it is safe to resume business.

Clients will have access to content online from Fondren Fitness to continue their workout routines at home. In addition, trainers will provide individual workout routines to be done at home. Any automatic payments that are made during the closure will be credited towards your account and will be applied towards the last payment of your agreement. If closure extends beyond the month of April Fondren Fitness will look to implement a different plan.

For information email personal training director Ty Parker at [email protected] or call 601-213-7322.

Opera Mississippi

The Board of Directors of Opera Mississippi has decided to cancel an upcoming production of Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette on April 25 at Thalia Mara Hall in Jackson. Customers who already purchased tickets can get a refund, convert their ticket cost into a tax-deductible donation or accept a ticket to Opera Mississippi's April 2021 main stage Opera instead. For more information, visit operams.org.

Sophomore Spanish Club

Sophomore Spanish Club announced on its Facebook page that it will close for at least one week, reopening on March 23. However, if Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba has not lifted a recent ban on gatherings of 50 people or more by then both Fine & Dandy and Sophomore Spanish Club will remain closed for another week.

Olivia's Food Emporium

Olivia's announced on its Facebook page Friday, March 20, that it will be closed until further notice.

Fertile Ground 2020 Expo

The Fertile Ground Project has cancelled its 2020 Fertile Ground Expo event, originally scheduled for April 9-11. For more information, email [email protected].

Central Mississippi Regional Library System

The Central Mississippi Regional Library System and the Board of Trustees have closed twenty branches in Rankin, Scott, Simpson and Smith Counties and the Headquarters office in Brandon to the public effective Monday, March 15, and until further notice. This closure affects traditional library services, all programs, outreach services, and meeting room reservations made by the library.

If you have library materials currently in your possession, please do not return them in bookdrops. CMRLS will waive any fines or fees associated with this time period. CMRLS will extend all due dates and suspend all notices during this time. CMRLS will not accept any material donations such as books and DVDs. While closed, the libraries will be cleaned and sanitized.

CMRLS services can still be accessed through our digital materials. There are thousands of eBooks, eAudiobooks, music, and more, available 24/7. CMRLS will continue to update their social media and website, Cmrls.lib.ms.us, about any further disruptions to library services.

A call center at the Mississippi State Department of Health is now available for the general public at 1-877-978-6453 to answer questions about COVID-19.

UMMC Hospital Visitation Restricted to Curb COVID-19 Spread

Effective Monday at noon, the University of Mississippi Medical Center will restrict visitors at its Jackson-based hospitals in an effort to lessen the spread of the novel coronavirus and help ensure the safety of patients, visitors, employees and students.

As of Saturday, the Mississippi State Department of Health had announced six presumptive positive cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Mississippi cases currently cover the counties of Forrest, Leflore, Copiah and Pearl River. It is generally accepted that Mississippi is experiencing community spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus

Medical Center leadership is enacting a revised visitor policy for all UMMC hospitals. The primary restrictions being put in place are:

Adult patients are not permitted to have visitors except in certain circumstances according to hospital visitation policies.

Pediatric patients (Children’s of Mississippi) are permitted to have only two adult visitors, but both must be parents, guardians or caregivers.

Temporary visitor restrictions are already in effect for UMMC Grenada and UMMC Holmes County. The Jackson hospitals are University Hospital, Wiser Hospital for Women and Infants, Batson Children’s Hospital and Conerly Critical Care Hospital.

Also, beginning Monday, there will be only two entrances for patients and visitors of the Jackson-based hospitals:

The front entrance of University Hospital (under the overhang facing State Street near Garage A)

The side entrance to Wiser Hospital for Women and Children (under the overhang facing Garage B)

Patients and visitors will be screened at those two entrances. Patients who exhibit symptoms associated with respiratory illness (fever, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath) or report they have recently visited an area identified as a location experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak will receive further evaluation to determine next steps. Visitors that meet any of these criteria will not be allowed to enter under any circumstances.

Along with the person doing the screening, also present at these two entrances will be a Campus Police officer and a patient experience representative. The entrances for University Heart, Adult and Pediatric EDs and the Pavilion will be open, but will not provide patients and visitors access to hospitals.

Restrictions and entry screenings also apply to patients and visitors needing to enter a hospital for a hospital-based clinic or procedure appointments.

For more information about COVID-19 in Mississippi and preparations by UMMC, click here.

Tech JXN

The City of Jackson has postponed the Tech JXN 2020 event scheduled for April 16-18. For more information visit the city's website at jacksonms.gov or the TECH JXN website at techjacksonms.com.

Operation Shoestring

Operation Shoestring is closing its afterschool and all other programming on Monday, March 16th, while the team maps out next steps to ensure the safety of kids, families, staff and volunteers.

Custom Optical

Custom Optical has temporarily closed and is working by appointment only at 601-362-6675.

Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience

The Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience in Meridian will be closed to the public March 17–23.

All events, classes, and programs have been cancelled through April 4, 2020.Those events include:

All Facility Rental Events

St. Patty’s Day at The MAX

Brown Bag Concert on Third Thursday

Guitar & Ceramics Classes

Make & Take, Mini Maestros Workshops

Blues Series, Aa'Keelah & The Beats

Gestalt Gardner Live – Felder Rushing

First Saturday – Food For Thought (All Activities – Studio Open House, Floral Demo, Art As Creative Healing, Plant Swap)

Volunteer Picnic

Sipp & Savor (Date TBD)

For more information, visit msarts.org.

City of Jackson Public Hearings

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba's office announced that all of City of Jackson’s remaining scheduled public hearings and application workshops regarding the development of its 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan and its 2020 One-Year Action Plan have been postponed until further notice. For information, call Linda Caldwell at 601-960-1865.

CelticFest Mississippi

In compliance with guidelines from the CDC and the Mississippi Department of Health, CelticFest Mississippi announced on its Facebook page that it is canceling this year's festival.

Jackson Hinds Library System

The Jackson Hinds Library System will be closed Monday, March 16 and Tuesday March 17, 2020. For more information, call 601-968-5805.

Holmes County Consolidated School District

Following Gov. Tate Reeves’ declaration of a state of emergency and recommendation of state-wide school closings, the Holmes County Consolidated School District will be closed until Friday, March 20.

The district is prepared to meet student-nutritional needs by providing daily GRAB and GO meals. These daily meals will include breakfast and lunch, and will be delivered to all area school bus-stops. Students are asked to be at bus-stops between 7:30 and 9 a.m. for breakfast and return to bus-stops for lunch between 11:30 a.m and 1 p.m.

Public Universities - Extended Spring Break

Mississippi’s eight public universities have modified the schedules for the spring semester classes to inhibit the spread of the coronavirus, extending Spring Break by an additional week. More information is available at mississippi.edu. Tougaloo College and Hinds Community College have also extended spring break by an additional week. Millsaps College, the University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi have also posted additional information at millsaps.edu/coronavirus, provost.olemiss.edu/covid and usm.edu/provost/coronavirus.

Millsaps College

In response to guidance from public health authorities and government officials to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the senior leadership of Millsaps College, with the support of the board of trustees, has made the decision to provide remote-only instruction to students through the end of the semester and to require that residential students move out of their residence hall rooms. Visit https://bit.ly/2Ur6JoK for more information.

Hinds Community College

Hinds Community College administrators determined that effective Monday, March 23, all courses will be shifted to an online learning environment for the foreseeable future. Residence hall students should not return to campus until further notice. Further instructions will be released to students and employees on Friday, March 20. For more information, visit hindscc.edu or call 1-800-HindsCC.

University of Mississippi Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics

The Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics at the University of Mississippi has canceled the final three programs for the Spring 2020 season because of the coronavirus pandemic, Chairman Charles Overby announced on Friday, March 13. The Overby programs were scheduled for March 24, March 31 and April 7. The center will make decisions about fall programs at a later date.

Ocean Springs School District Announces Closures of All Schools March 16-20

Over the previous 48 hours, many schools in neighboring states and across Mississippi have announced closures, and with Gov. Tate Reeves’s announcement of a state of emergency in Mississippi, Ocean Springs School District announced its schools will close the week of March 16-20.

OSSD has created a portal to help share information concerning COVID-19, and it can be found at https://www.ossdms.org/apps/pages/OSSDHealthAlerts.

State Museums and MDAH Public Events

Based on information provided by the Mississippi Department of Health about the Coronavirus epidemic, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History will close all sites and offices beginning Friday, March 13. The Museum of Mississippi History, Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, Eudora Welty House and Garden, Mississippi Governor’s Mansion, Old Capitol Museum, and William F. Winter Archives and History Building in Jackson, Grand Village of the Natchez Indians in Natchez, and Winterville Mounds near Greenville will all close until further notice.

All public events at MDAH sites through the end of March have been postponed, including the weekly History Is Lunch program, the opening reception of the Mississippi Distilled Prohibition exhibit on March 20, and the Mississippi Freedom Seder event on April 2, all at the Two Mississippi Museums. The Bettye Jolly Lecture at the Eudora Welty House and Garden on March 19, the New Stage Theater event at the Old Capitol Museum on March 31, and the Pow Wow at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians on March 28, have also been postponed.

For more information email [email protected] or call 601-576-6822.

Mississippi Children’s Museum

The Mississippi Children’s Museum will close to the public beginning Monday, March 16. For more information, follow the museum on Instagram @mschildsmuseum, on Facebook at /MississippiChildrensMuseum and on Twitter @MSChildsMuseum, or visit the museum's website at mschildrensmuseum.org.

Mississippi Museum of Art

The Mississippi Museum of Art will be closed through April 3, but the Art Garden outside the museum will remain open to the public. The museum is also cancelling or postponing all public programs scheduled between March 13 and April 9, including the Scholastic Art Awards Ceremony on March 22 and celebratory events surrounding the opening of "Van Gogh, Monet, Degas, and Their Times: The Mellon Collection of French Art from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts." The museum has also postponed its 2020 Art Party spring benefit from April 3 to June 12.

Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum

The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum will be closed to the public through at least April 4. Anyone with events scheduled at the museum may contact the museum offices at 601-982-8264 for more information. Updates will be available through MSFAME.com and the Museum's social media pages.

Swell-O-Phonic

Swell-o-Phonic’s storefront will be closed for the time being but plans to reopen by April 6. Chane.com remains operational and is offering 25% off the entire store plus free shipping.

Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet’s production of "Frozen Heart," scheduled for March 28-29 at Jackson Academy Performing Arts Center, has been cancelled. Ticket holders have been provided additional information via email.

Women's Foundation of Mississippi "Thrive @ Work" Luncheon

The Women's Foundation of Mississippi announced that it is postponing its third annual "Thrive @ Work" luncheon originally scheduled for Thursday, April 16, to Tuesday, Aug. 25.

International Museum of Muslim Cultures

The International Museum of Muslim Cultures in Jackson will be closed from March 17 until April 1. Further, all Museum events are cancelled or postponed, including IMMC’s Islamic Thought Institute Public Programs and Islamic Heritage Month Programs and Activities.

Wyatt Waters Gallery

The Wyatt Waters Gallery in Clinton, Miss., announced on its Facebook page that the gallery will be temporarily closed. For more information, visit wyattwaters.com.

Martinson's Garden Works

Martinson's Garden Works (650 Highway 51, Ridgeland) in Ridgeland has cancelled its March Craft Market event. For more information, visit martinsonsms.com or call 601-856-3078 or 601-566-6042.

Walter Anderson Museum of Art

The Walter Anderson Museum of Art in Ocean Springs, Miss., has cancelled its Words & Wonder (Pre-K Storytime) event scheduled for Friday, March 20, and has postponed its Inglis Evening Dinner on the Grounds scheduled for Saturday, April 4. The museum itself will remain open.

Event at Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum

The appearance of world renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum has been postponed. Dr. Andrews was scheduled to speak about treatment and care of young athletes on Thursday, March 19, but no new date has yet been scheduled.

Touch A Truck Jackson

In light of Mississippi State Department of Health's recommendation that all non-essential gatherings of 250 persons or more be cancelled or postponed, the Junior League of Jackson has cancelled its 7th Annual Touch A Truck Jackson, scheduled to take place March 27-28. For information, email the Junior League of Jackson at [email protected] or call 601-948-2357.

St. Luke’s UMC

St. Luke’s UMC in Fondren has cancelled Sunday worship services for March 22 and 29, and all other church activities until March 30. Church office hours may vary for the next few weeks.

Galloway United Methodist Church

Galloway United Methodist Church has suspended all services and activities for Sunday, March 15. Livestreams and broadcasts will still be available.

Diocese of Jackson

Public Masses in every parish, school and institution in the Diocese of Jackson are suspended effective immediately until further notice. The situation will be reassessed at the beginning of April in regards to the Sacred Triduum ceremonies.

The following directives are established until further notice in conjunction with the above suspension and continue the directives from March 13:

• All gatherings in parishes also are suspended effective immediately until further notice, including faith formation, CCD, RCIA, Stations, Adoration, etc.

• All Penance Services, School Masses and Healing Masses are suspended as stated in the March 13 directives.

• For the foreseeable future, funerals should be simple graveside services with a small gathering and a memorial Mass may be celebrated at a later date.

• All public St. Joseph Altars are suspended.

• Weddings should consist of gatherings of 10 or less and must use Rite of Marriage Outside of Mass.

• The Sacrament of Reconciliation should be by appointment only and with six feet of distance behind a screen.

• The Diocesan Chrism Mass will be celebrated privately by Bishop Kopacz and oils will be distributed at a later date.

• Priests are asked not to travel outside the diocese until further notice.

• Diocesan staff will not be travelling, and some are set to work from home.

• Parish staff should limit in office visits and encourage business to occur via telephone or email.

Hattiesburg Event Cancellations

The Hattiesburg Area Development Partnership has announced the cancellation of several events, including the Legislative Forum on March 23, Business After Hours at Community Bank on March 26, HUBFEST on March 28 and Accelerate on April 3.

Oxford Film Festival

The Oxford Film Festival Board of Directors and staff announced today that because of public health concerns regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19), the 2020 Oxford Film Festival, scheduled for March 18 – 22, has been postponed. Tickets and passes will be honored at the rescheduled Festival.

No specific dates are currently announced for the rescheduled festival. The festival organizers will be in contact with all participants.

2020 Civil Rights bus pilgrimage

Southern Methodist University in Texas has canceled a planned 2020 Civil Rights bus pilgrimage that was to explore landmarks in the Deep South. For information, visit smu.edu.

KISS Concerts in Biloxi

The final three shows of the spring leg of the KISS "End of the Road" Tour are being rescheduled out of an abundance of caution, including a show at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, which has been rescheduled to October 6. All tickets will be honored for the new dates. The fall leg of the tour remains unchanged. No refunds are being issued at this time. For more information visit mscoastcoliseum.com.

Mississippi Tennis Association

The Mississippi Tennis Association has suspended operations until April 20.

BankPlus

Beginning Friday, March 20, all BankPlus locations will offer drive-thru service only. To promote health and safety, bank lobbies will be closed to customers until further notice. If you have banking needs that cannot be handled in the drive-thru, please call your bank officer or the BankPlus customer service center at 1-888-811-7587.

Pearl River Resort

Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Tribal government officials and Pearl River Resort executive leaders have made the decision to temporarily close all Pearl River Resort properties due to nationwide COVID-19 concerns. The temporary suspension of gaming operations will be effective March 18 through March 31. Hotel operations will also be suspended effective at noon on March 19 through March 31. The Pearl River Resort properties impacted include Silver Star Hotel and Casino, Golden Moon Hotel and Casino and Bok Homa Casino.

C Spire

C Spire has temporarily closed its stores in Bay St. Louis, Brandon, Byram, Charleston, Clarksdale, Columbia, Columbus, Deville, Greenwood, Grenada, Indianola, Louisville, Magee, McComb, Meadville, Mobile – Airport, Natchez, Ocean Springs, Oxford, Pascagoula, Philadelphia, Picayune, Richland, S. Hattiesburg, Tupelo, Vicksburg, Waynesboro, West Point, Wiggins and Yazoo City.

Of Interest Outside Mississippi

On Thursday, March 12, NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors canceled the Division I men’s and women’s 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships.

Read the JFP’s coverage of COVID-19 at jacksonfreepress.com/covid19. Get more details on preventive measures here. Read about announced closings and delays in Mississippi here. Read MEMA’s advice for a COVID-19 preparedness kit here.

Email information about closings and other vital related logistical details to [email protected].

Email state reporter Nick Judin, who is covering COVID-19 in Mississippi, at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter at @nickjudin. Seyma Bayram is covering the outbreak inside the capital city and in the criminal-justice system. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter at @seymabayram0.