Jackson Free Press

The city of Jackson has announced that a portion of South Medgar Evers Boulevard will be closed for the next three days. The closure starts at the intersection known as Freedom Corner, at Medgar Evers and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, and continues south to Pocahontas Street at Society Ridge Baptist Church.

Public Works crews are working to repair a broken water valve, and it's expected to take three days, weather permitting. Detour signs, they say, will be posted.

While this can be considered inconvenient, we've been lucky, so far, despite the constant below-freezing temperatures that have gripped the Jackson over the last 48 hours. A similar freeze in 2010 burst pipes all over the city and forced repairs all over the city.

The city of Jackson will host a town hall meeting to discuss and answer questions the public may have regarding the proposed water and sewer upgrades. The next Town Hall Meeting will take place in Ward 3 on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 6:30 p.m. at Progressive Missionary Baptist Church at 2323 Powers Avenue.

Concerned or interested citizens are encouraged to attend.

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba and the City of Jackson is hosting another Town Hall meeting tonight to discuss the 1-percent local sales tax option. The meeting is set for 6 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church at 6000 Old Canton Road in Ward 1.

City leaders are putting the option for the tax to voters next Tuesday ( Jan. 14). If passed, it would levy an extra 1-percent on all sales in the city except groceries, prescription drugs, cable TV packages, hotel rooms and food and beverages at restaurants.