Expect delays this weekend on Hwy 78

Two alerts that mean one thing – Hwy 78 is going to close while the bridge girders go up for Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi. Westbound lanes will be impacted Saturday. Eastbound lanes will be impacted Sunday. Expect delays. From MDOT today:

RAILROAD BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION
Location: US-78 Approximately one mile west of Hwy 9 at Blue Springs
County: Union
Lanes Affected: Westbound All Lanes
Alert Type: Construction
Traffic Impact: High
Begin Date: Saturday, Mar. 28, 2009 7:00 AM
End Date: Saturday, Mar. 28, 2009 3:30 PM
Additional Information: Possible delays of up to 30 minutes during bridge girder placement

And for the eastbound lanes:

Congress approves Hills heritage area

From Congressman Travis Childers:

Washington, DC – Congressman Travis Childers (D-MS) today voted for the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (H.R. 146), which establishes the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area, as well the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area. This language originated in the House from legislation cosponsored by Congressman Childers. The Omnibus Public Lands bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support by a vote of 285 to 140.

“The Mississippi Hills Region is a unique area that contributes significantly to the state’s tourism industry, culture, and history,” said Congressman Childers. “Designating the Hills as a National Heritage Area will help bolster economic development in North Mississippi and throughout the state by preserving and promoting the Hill’s rich cultural landscape and traditions.”

The National Park Service began designating National Heritage Areas in 1984 to encourage economic growth through tourism, preserve and promote cultural and natural resources, and provide educational opportunities about a region’s cultural and physical landscape. There are currently only 37 National Heritage Areas in the country.

And here’s another spin from Noxubee County:

New restaurant for downtown Tupelo

We hear that Guy Jenkins is planning to open a lunch restaurant in the Bistro’s former alley location off Main Street. We’re hunting down more details.

In the meantime, check out suggestions from Biz Buzz readers about what they wanted to see in the vacant spot.

Walking track moved for new biz

We here at the Journal have been watching with interest as the buildings across the street from our building on South Green have come down. Then, the community walking track was rerouted. Here’s what Marsha Tapscott with the North Mississippi Medical Center tells us is going on:

The removal of a portion of the North Mississippi Medical Center Live Well Community Walking Track has created interest in individuals who use it for exercise as well as curious passersby.

The track is being modified and rerouted to make room for a new Pulmonary Consultants medical office that will be built this summer at the intersection of South Green Street and Pegram Drive.

Up to 150 long-term jobs for Pontotoc

6:15 p.m. update: We reworked our headline on this because we don’t want to mislead. The AP story says the project will created up to 450 new jobs. However, only 150 are long-term jobs. And the 150 are direct and indirect jobs. Enerkem didn’t spell out how many will be at the plant. The rest of the 450 number comes from Enerkem’s estimated 300 jobs that will be created during the construction and start-up phases. Read tomorrow’s Daily Journal for more info.

—

From AP:

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A Canadian company says it has selected Mississippi as the site for its first U.S. plant to turn solid waste, wood residues and other feedstock into biofuel.

Enerkem Inc., headquartered in Montreal, Canada, announced its plans Thursday in a news release and a company spokeswoman says Enerkem has been in discussions with local officials since early last year. The plant will be in Pontotoc and is expected to create up to 450 jobs.

Enerkem has signed a letter of intent with the Three Rivers Regional Solid Waste Management Authority, which owns and operates a regional landfill for the counties of Calhoun, Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, Monroe, Pontotoc, and Union.

Three Rivers has agreed to supply Enerkem with approximately 189,000 tons of solid waste annually as feedstock for the plant.

Read the full press release.

CVS to open ‘early 2010′

CVS pharmacy will open its Tupelo location in early 2010, according to CVS corporate communications manager Mike DeAngelis. The store will be 13,000 square feet, slightly bigger than the West Point location.

It should have about 20 to 25 employees, he said. And, DeAngelis said the store is “not currently scheduled to be 24 hours” – a surprising decision to the Biz considering that the Walgreens location across the street is 24 hours.

And, some of you have been asking questions about the TVA sign. It’s still there. It’s not on CVS’ property. Here’s a picture we took Tuesday. The sign is alive and well.

the TVA sign isn't going anywhere

Downtown design seminar today

From the Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association:

Just a reminder that tonight is another workshop in our Design Series. 5:00 p.m. City Hall – 2nd floor Council Chambers. Hope to see you there.

The session is entitled “Design Assessment Tools.” Michael Jones will present.

The design series is meant to educate building owners about the proper way to renovate an older building or construct a new building so that the design complements the historic downtown ambiance.

Work begins for JoS. A. Bank

JoS. A. Bank logo

Jeff Snyder, general manager for the Mall at Barnes Crossing, today officially confirmed what we have been reporting for months – JoS. A. Bank is opening at the mall.

Snyder said the deal was signed last week. Equipment is being moved on site today to begin demolition for JoS. A. Bank. JESCO will begin construction tomorrow. See the site plans.

He expects the men’s apparel store to open in about three months.

House OKs furniture tax credit

An excerpt (full story) from today’s Daily Journal:

JACKSON – The House, without a dissenting vote, passed legislation Tuesday aimed at saving jobs in the ailing furniture industry.

The measure would provide a tax break to furniture manufacturers. Its approval came on the final day for the chamber to take it up.

On Monday, House Ways and Means Chairman Percy Watson, D-Hattiesburg, and Speaker Billy McCoy, D-Rienzi, would not commit to taking up the legislation even after meeting with representatives of the Mississippi Furniture Association.

But on Tuesday, the House passed the legislation, although it made changes in the bill to ensure that it will end up in conference. There, key House and Senate members will continue to work on the proposal.

McCoy said he wanted to ensure the legislation fulfills its stated intent of saving and possibly creating jobs in Northeast Mississippi’s hard-hit furniture industry.

“This is not to give a tax break to an industry. We want this bill to do good for the overall state economy and to save and create jobs,” McCoy said. “We want to save what we have and create more.”

Crosstown demolition begins

We saw piles of rubble at Crosstown around noon on our way back from an interview in Pontotoc. And, we saw a big sign saying that the northeast corner is the future home of CVS pharmacy. Casa Monterrey has been torn down, along with the law firm and parts of the gas station property. At 11:50 a.m., the main building of the gas station was still there. It looks like the salon is too.

Here’s what we saw. Let us know if you see the gas station come down.

guess it’s not a secret anymore

demolition at the gas station

where the law firm used to be

the other side of the demo of the gas station

what’s left of Casa Monterrey