Independent Hits Racks Early Today

[lamarrebel]

The Independent is usually not ready until after 3pm....what's the big headline this week?

[lamarrebel]

When I spoke with Bob Pittman yesterday, we didn't discuss the upcoming issue. I wonder if the Reverend has ever been pleased by the Independent or Bob's writings?

[2002usmgrad]

I just called The Indy and the guy there told me they just got the papers to the office, he said they should be on the racks soon. On my way to pick one up, I'll let yall know of any headlines.

[jmb]

So what were the headlines? Anything exciting?

[Sir Mickey Mouse]

There is a story about a lady from Petal who solved her brother's murder and will appear on HBO... turned out to be her sister in law killing the brother

$5 million loan for Fairley's church... no word on where it's going, but Bob Pittman leaves the sentences open in a way to let the imagination wonder...

Big picture of the bank robber

Liberty Bowl may be dropping Conference USA

Some other stuff...

[2002usmgrad]

There's also the story about Melvin Mack creating 5 new jobs for campaign supporters. What's up with that?

[aaron]

Sounds like the beginning of another Laurel migration to Hattiesburg to me. At least here we're trying to fire the opponent's campaign supporters.

[MC69TA]

There is a story about a lady from Petal who solved her brother's murder and will appear on HBO... turned out to be her sister in law killing the brother

$5 million loan for Fairley's church... no word on where it's going, but Bob Pittman leaves the sentences open in a way to let the imagination wonder...

Big picture of the bank robber

Liberty Bowl may be dropping Conference USA

Some other stuff...

"no word on where it's going,"
Q Where did it come from?

[Sir Mickey Mouse]

Seaway National Bank...
a minority owned bank to fight against discrimination on Chicago's south side accroding to the paper

[JB2379]

So where is the $5 million loan going? Duhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! - in Fairley's pocket, to fund his cars and shopping sprees.
As for Melvin Mack, that guy is quickly ruining Laurel, which used to be a pretty decent city. How the heck are you going to publicly promise your cam paign workers jobs if you are elected to public office and then actually go through with it? At least Dupree try to be sneaky with his actions. Mack just doesn't care, after all, his campaign slogan was "All roads in Laurel lead to a school."

[JB2379]

Oh yeah, I'm glad that the Independent continues to report what's really going on in the Pine Belt!

[justme]

Not to stir the pot but I have heard that Main Street has never been paid for the purchase of the church...I guess that doesn't make news since it is not good for one church to bicker over money with another one. I am not a member of either church so I can't vouch for the truth of this -- just what I have heard. It does seem to me that if that is the rumor, and he is getting this amount of money and there is money owed to Main Street, the right thing to do would be to pay them for the building. IMO.

[R1ZOOM]

Didn't local media outlets, specifically WDAM, report that Fairley's church was bankrupt a couple of years ago? I think it was within a year or so before the large stash of dope showed up over there, which is still unresolved. It's amazing that an amount of marijuana that large can show up, yet there is no prosecution of anybody...absolutely unbelievable.:smt102

[JB2379]

You are absolutely correct R1ZOOM, WDAM and the HA reported on that situation, And as you know, nobody was ever prosectuted. It is so many fishy things going on at that church. I hate to say this, but I comment the members of have recently departed the church. They all claimed that their reason for leaving was because they wanted to live a RIGHTEOUSS life.
Also, if Fairley couldn't afford to purchase that building from Main Street Baptist, he should have never put his congregation in that bind. His decision to purchase that building basically split the congregation in half, with a lot of the older members opting to remain at the old location and start their own church.

[El Nino]

I heard the Independent lifted (i.e. stole) some quotes from a HA story this week.

[2002usmgrad]

You are absolutely correct R1ZOOM, WDAM and the HA reported on that situation, And as you know, nobody was ever prosectuted. It is so many fishy things going on at that church. I hate to say this, but I comment the members of have recently departed the church. They all claimed that their reason for leaving was because they wanted to live a RIGHTEOUSS life.
Also, if Fairley couldn't afford to purchase that building from Main Street Baptist, he should have never put his congregation in that bind. His decision to purchase that building basically split the congregation in half, with a lot of the older members opting to remain at the old location and start their own church.

Are a majority of the members leaving going to one specific church or are they spreading out among the other area churches? How is the church that the older members started doing?

[JB2379]

To answer your question 2002usmgrad,
Well, I know that a couple of the associate ministers recently left the church and I think they are having church services at the Hawthorne Suites conference room. One of those ministers is a recent former Hattiesburg High School football coach. Some of the other members are now just going to different churches in the area.

[King Kong]

Forrest and Lamar County's only NEWS paper hit the racks early today. Should be available before noon. :smt038

Yea as soon as it came out I went to a newsstand and got a copy. Then I raced back to read it and sucked up every word like I was some kind of crack head.:grin: That paper is addictive. I also noticed in the Indy that you can get a 1 year prescription for like $22.00. Just what the doctor ordered.

[Wayward]

Give it a shot, King Kong. The paper usually shows up in my mail box on Thursday. Sometimes a day or two later ... but the delay is unusual.

[King Kong]

Give it a shot, King Kong. The paper usually shows up in my mail box on Thursday. Sometimes a day or two later ... but the delay is unusual.

I definitely will. I buy them every week as it is already. Why not just have it delivered to me and save the trip and a couple of bucks.

[lamarrebel]

I subcribe to the Indy, but most of the time find myself going down there Wednesday afternoon and getting a copy simply b/c I can't wait until Thursday to see what's in it. I wish they had home delievery on Weds afternoon.

IN this week's issue, I wonder why there had to be the whole section of Bobby Chain congratulating himself on 50 years of business. Is he trying to do some PR damage control after the Mayor's race?

[aaron]

I was wondering the same thing about the "Chain edition" that I picked up this week.

[Wayward]

I agree. Bobby Chain did some great things for the city ... but some felt the technique was too 'brute force' and this created some enemies. A major contribution was the initial revitalization in the downtown area. At the end of his term, the project faulted a bit, since it was personally driven rather than community driven.

While the city strongly supports the current downtown redevelopment effort, it is business community led rather than city administration led ... an important difference.

And yes. I suspect Chain Electric paid big $$ for the insert, Bobby Chain got his due, and Bob Pittman is smiling. :smt038

[lamarrebel]

No question, the Mr. Chain has accomplished a lot in his life, even though he evidentally took over the business from his father. I wasn't here when he was Mayor and only have second hand knowledge of his time in office. My observation is that I think he allowed his success at some point to go to his head, and still believes he is more in the political scene than he actually is. His efforts behind Hattiesburg First, simply further sealed the fate of Betsy's campaign. I believe by primary day she would have beated LJD regardless of those negative ads (more people were seeing her experience on the Council as more fitting for the job of Mayor than LJD's experience in the Legislature) and had she avoided the mistake of outright calling for Wynn's firing (it needs to be done, but the way she called for it only roused up the opposition).

Had the campaign been run properly, I'm still not convinced Betsy could have won, but it certainly would not have a rout.

[R1ZOOM]

You are absolutely correct R1ZOOM, WDAM and the HA reported on that situation, And as you know, nobody was ever prosectuted. It is so many fishy things going on at that church. I hate to say this, but I comment the members of have recently departed the church. They all claimed that their reason for leaving was because they wanted to live a RIGHTEOUSS life.
Also, if Fairley couldn't afford to purchase that building from Main Street Baptist, he should have never put his congregation in that bind. His decision to purchase that building basically split the congregation in half, with a lot of the older members opting to remain at the old location and start their own church.


Interesting read in the HA

http://hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050802/NEWS01/508020302/1002

[aaron]

the bank almost foreclosed because they missed one payment? That sounds kind of weird, even though that's got to be a big payment.

[JB2379]

R1ZOOM, that is an interesting read, but why would you take out another loan when you haven't paid off the existing one? That doesn't make sense. And I'l be the first to say that I can almost promise you that all of that money will not be spent on the services they claim it will be spent on. Sure, if Fairley is truly legit in wanting to really do this for the community, that's a good thing, but it just seems like Mt. Carmel and Mt. Olive are trying to out-do each other. If you haven't heard, Mt. Olive is currently undergoing a multi-million expansion project.

[R1ZOOM]

the bank almost foreclosed because they missed one payment? That sounds kind of weird, even though that's got to be a big payment.

my thoughts exactly, banks don't foreclose over one missed loan payment, there's more to the story I believe, if banks did this there would be a lot more foreclosed homes and repo'd autos around

"Fairley said the foreclosure threat was the result of a delay in refinancing the loan through Seaway National Bank of Chicago"

So it actually sounds like they were several payments behind perhaps, and that's a lame excuse anyway. If you are refinancing something, ie your home, credit card debt, whatever, you can't just not pay what you currently owe and blame it on the fact that you are refinancing your debts.

When will Wynn post and fill us in? :) :p :grin:

[aaron]

I'm just wondering how they will pay it. Since I hear a lot about him, I have watched Fairley on TV on Sunday mornings before I go to church. I struggle to see more than 100 people there. In all fairness though, I don't really agree with any church borrowing money.

[JB2379]

well, the reason you don't see that many people on the Sunday morning television service is because they several other services besides that one. However, like I've said over and over again, that congregation is getting smaller and smaller by the day.

[Sir Mickey Mouse]

I agree about the borrowing money, Aaron. Dave Ramsey should schedule a live event!

[lamarrebel]

if he is becoming less and less relevant as a spiritual leader in the African American community, how was he able to exert such influence over the municipal election? I don't think I've ever really paid attention to one of Mount Carmel's services, on the rare Sunday mornings that we've missed church. I remember well the near forclosure and was actually in the chancery building during some of the squabble. I felt sad for them actually, I don't want to see any church that is committed to spreading the word and gospel of Jesus Christ to struggle.

If the church is losing more and more people, I question the wisdom of borrowing over $5 mil. There has to be a base of people to tithe and contribute to make those ends meet. The entire property over there isn't worth nearly that (I understood when I was at Main Street Baptist that Mt. Carmel had gotten a "steal" on it). As Dave Ramsey has noted many times, "you can't borrow your way out of debt". Fairley would be wise to take note of that.

[bartspoon]

All i can say is look-out Vicksburg and Brandon.

[JB2379]

well, people are continously leaving that church, but they still have a pretty-good size congregation, made up of alot of black college students. The reason Fairley had such an influence over the election is because he has several local, black, powerful associates in high places.
Also, many people fear this man, because in the black community he has the reputation for making trouble for people if he don't get his way. Just look at some of the thugs he hangs around with. But there are several people in the black community that do not fear this man or his threats.

[beggingforrelief]

Maybe Fairley is molding his financial prowness after DuPree's thoughts, that is borrow enough money to pay off old debts, plus add more debt, than when that is due, talk about expansion and borrow more money to pay off the first and the second debt. Hmmmmmmm, kinda sounds like DuPree's 60 million plan.

I just don't understand how Fairley can expect the members of Mt. Carmel to take on another debt when all he ever talks about is how the people of East Hattiesburg are so poor that they need more community projects aimed their way to help them survive.

A tith and/or offering is ment to spread the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and to lead people to everlasting life through surrendering themselfs to God. Not to build bigger buildings, buy the Preacher new luxury vehicles, custom fitted suits or finance his own political agenda's.

[R1ZOOM]

I just don't understand how Fairley can expect the members of Mt. Carmel to take on another debt when all he ever talks about is how the people of East Hattiesburg are so poor that they need more community projects aimed their way to help them survive.

A tith and/or offering is ment to spread the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and to lead people to everlasting life through surrendering themselfs to God. Not to build bigger buildings, buy the Preacher new luxury vehicles, custom fitted suits or finance his own political agenda's.

:smt038 Glory Glory

[ynotme297]

maybe he plans to use some of the 60mil. if jd gets it

[JB2379]

It's sad that Fairley has changed his church into a money-making business. The church should be about saving God's people, not making money in the real estate business. It's a sad, sad situation over at that church.

[reverand]

The Church is no place, for a real estate money-making scheme
The business of saving souls, has been forgotten it seems.

My patience is wearing thin, and I feel that I must articulate
That Mt.Carmel must cease this abomination of becoming the Church of Real Estate.

The good book would never condone running a business, that not what Gods work is about
It seems that some Churches are saving souls, while others are quickly selling out.

Is City Hall is becoming Mt.Carmel’s east campus, with bible school right there in the hall?
Is Fairley becoming a real estate giant? Just ask for Donald Trump Jr. whenever you call.



Glory Glory

[JB2379]

well-said Rev.

[just-Wynn]

Wynn knows all you really need to keep a Baptist happy is air conditioning and food. If Fiarley would quit dipping his hands in the pot there might be some honey left for the things that are necessary.

[lamarrebel]

In any sort of liquidation proceeding the bank would have the Mount Carmel facility as collateral which would be turned over. The new bankruptcy laws mostly affect consumer filings, as they will make it harder for some people to file a chapter 7 and more difficult for others to complete their Chapter 13. Additionally, it will make life more difficult for lawyers who practice in bankruptcy court. My understanding is that the amount of time required to complete the paperwork in a bankruptcy proceeding will double. I hope that bankrupcy judges will approve higher attorney fees as a result.

I've all but decided to get out of bankruptcy work after the law takes effect. I do too much collection work, which conflicts out many bankruptcy clients, and bankruptcy is such a small part of my practice.

With Mt. Carmel already located at the old Main Street Baptist facility, I so no reason that they would need to obtain the First Baptist site. That's several years down the road anyway.

[AlphaMale]

You can buy a lot of Real Estate with all that weed.