In case you missed it, here’s a look back at a few business highlights for the past week.
Belle & Beau holds grand opening in Thomsen Farms
Belle & Beau, a children’s boutique held its grand opening at 409 D Walker Road, Monday.
Located in Thomsen Farms, the boutique and will offer clothing for infants and children – preemies to size 10 for girls, and preemies to size 6 for boys.
Belle & Beau is co-owned by Dr. Tameka and LaFaye Noel.
“After a similar store went out of business, we considered buying it, but things did not work our,” Dr. Tameka Noel, a cardiac anesthesiologist said. “We saw the need, and there was no better time than the present.”
Business hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays.
West Tennessee Healthcare buying Tennova? CHS divesting hospitals
Tennova officials declined to comment, but a statement from West Tennessee Healthcare said, “There is some discussion in the community regarding the potential sale of CHS (Community Health Systems) hospitals.
“We know that CHS has announced that it is divesting additional hospitals in 2018, but it is not their practice to announce which hospitals will be divested unless and until they reach a definitive agreement for sale.
“WTH is constantly evaluating opportunities to improve and expand regional access to high quality, cost-effective healthcare.”
REAL ESTATE – Market report for Jackson-Madison County
According to the Multiple Listing Service, new homes for sale in Jackson from January 1 through January 31, stood at 45, compared to 57 for the same period in 2017.
Total homes sold – January 1 through January 31 was 68, compared to 60 for the same period in 2017.
The number of homes on the market, which includes all of Madison County, stands at 309, compared to 363 for January 2017.
The average sales price for a home in January 2018 was $148,045.
JEA Board of directors – new kiosk for customer center, TV Japan approved for cable lineup
A new kiosk at a customer service center and a new television network were two resolutions approved when the Board of Directors of the Jackson Energy Authority held its monthly meeting, Tuesday.
“We approved two new resolutions,” said Jim Ferrell, president of Jackson Energy Authority. “One, to make some improvements to our Dr. Martin Luther King Customer Center (351 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive)
“We’re going to be adding a drive up kiosk, where customers can drive up and pay their bills through a kiosk and not have to get out of their car.”
The total project costs are estimated to be $195,841, with an engineering design projected to be completed by the end of March, 2018.
“We’re (also) going to make a few other improvements to the parking lot itself to help traffic flow.”
After multiple requests, the Board of Directors approved a resolution to add the TV Japan channel – or network to its Cable TV lineup.
“We added TV Japan for a premium service like HBO or Showtime,” Ferrell said. “Customers can sign up – if they have a digital box.”
Kim Parker – Respected by peers, staff and community leaders – 2017 WTH President’s Award Winner
Recognized as a dedicated Christian who embodies her beliefs in her actions every day, Kim Parker is the recipient of the 2017 West Tennessee Healthcare President’s Award.
“The President’s Award means a lot to me,” Kim said. “It means I could not have done what I have done in the last 18 years at West Tennessee Healthcare without the support of my staff and the administration and looking at what we could do we can do to meet the needs of the community. I am very honored.”
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Fred Williams named West Tennessee Healthcare employee of the month
When patients to the Kirkland Cancer Center have follow up visits, one person they request to see is Fred Williams, who received the employee of the month award for February, when the West Tennessee Healthcare’s Board of Trustees met, Tuesday.
The presentation was made by Darrell King, vice president, West Tennessee Medical Group; Gina Myracle, executive director, Kirkland Cancer Center and Keith Garner, director, Radiation Oncology.
Fred, a 26-year employee at West Tennessee Healthcare, works in Radiation Oncology at the Kirkland Cancer Center, is viewed as someone who is, according to a press release, “extremely kind and caring with his patients.”
Continuing, “Fred spends times listening to them while offering words of comfort – never making them feel pushed.
“He definitely makes their journey at the Kirkland Cancer Center easier. His attitude is always sincere and he strives to be positive all the time.”
“That’s the reason the patients – who return for a follow up visit at the Kirkland Cancer Center – always ask to see Fred, so they can simply say, ‘Hi.’”
Air Choice One begins offering flights from Jackson to Atlanta
Air service out of Jackson took its next step, when Air Choice One began offering direct flights from McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport to Atlanta, Thursday.
“We currently have a flight to St. Louis, so now we’ll have a flight directly from Jackson to St. Louis and Atlanta,” Ryan Porter said. ” I told Shane Storz, the president and CEO of Air Choice One we are very pleased, with those services, very pleased with the destinations of Atlanta and St. Louis – but we’re not content.
“We want to be aggressive and add new destinations – and hopefully that will come later this year.”
Ryan Porter is the chairman of the board of commissioners of the McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport authority.
The flight to Atlanta is viewed as a bonus for manufacturers considering locating in Jackson and West Tennessee, while looking for a way to commute to and from Europe.
Shane Storz, said the goal for Air Choice One is to make Jackson accessible to the world, and the world accessible to Jackson.
“This is an exciting day for Air Choice One, which celebrates the launch of our new air service to Atlanta,” Shane Storz said. “We began here in Jackson in 2015 (and) it was important to us that we serve the community and consistently seek ways to enhance opportunities for business and individuals of the community to overall help the economy of the Jackson area.”
Air Choice One will offer six flights each week – initially – out of McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
The 1.5 hour flight will leave Jackson at Noon, Monday through Friday, with a return flight from Atlanta scheduled for 3:30 p.m., Eastern time.
Air Choice One will leave Jackson at 9 a.m., Sunday, and a return flight will leave Atlanta at 12:30 p.m., Eastern time.
The carrier continues to offer three round trip flights, Monday through Friday, from Jackson to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.
One flight is offered each Saturday and two flights on Sundays.
Kustoff sees new Jackson to Atlanta flights paying dividends for area
A steady rain provided the backdrop, but U.S. Representative David Kustoff (R-Memphis) sees brighter days ahead for Jackson and the West Tennessee, after Air Choice One began offering daily flights from McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport to Atlanta, Thursday.
“It’s good to be back to be back in Madison County (Thursday) for the announcement of Air Choice One (and) the additional flights now to Atlanta,” Kustoff said. “We’ve got to support air service in Madison County (and) out of Madison County – at least greater economic development, and economic opportunities.
“I hope this flight, coupled with the tax reform that we passed with the help of President Trump last year, will pay dividends for Madison County and West Tennessee.”
(PHOTO: Tennova Healthcare – Regional Jackson, 367 Hospital Blvd.)
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