Wes Harris, State Farm Insurance Agent – home, auto, life & banking – 319 Vann Drive, sponsors Strictly Business, a weekly column that takes a look at a few of this week’s business highlights.
‘This fits us perfect’ – Jackson family takes advantage of Jackson to Destin flight
If Air Choice One needed a spokesperson for its newest route from Jackson to Destin, Florida, the regional air carrier would need to look no further than Jackson’s Nathan Spencer.
“My mother-in-law lives in Seagrove Beach, so it’s usually a 16-hour, round-trip drive for us to go visit her,” Nathan said. “Now we get a plane direct from Jackson.”
Nathan, wife Angela and daughter Savannah, were three of the first passengers to fly from McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport when Air Choice One began offering service to Destin’s Executive Airport, Thursday.
The weekly service will make one round trip to Destin Executive Airport each Thursday, Friday, Sunday, and Monday.
“We left our house 10 minutes ago (Thursday),” Nathan said, “We have free parking (at McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport) … it’s a 2.5 hour flight … my mother-in-law will pick us up … we get four days with her – and it will be awesome.”
Air Choice One began serving the Jackson community in 2015 with service to St. Louis, and expanded in 2017 with service to Atlanta.
“No, we would not have gone,” Nathan replied when asked if he and his family would have headed for Destin for the ‘short weekend’ if Air Choice One had not made the flight available.
“This flight is going to be great, so people can travel down there routinely, instead of once a year,” Nathan said, “It’s easier to get there … this fits us perfect. With a short week, it would be hard to drive 16 hours.”
Air Choice One makes inaugural flight from Jackson to Destin, Florida
The request was granted, and the inaugural flight from Jackson to Destin, Florida, left McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport, Thursday.
“We’re excited about it,” said Steve Smith, executive director of McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport. “It gives us another destination.
“We’re now flying to St. Louis, Atlanta and Destin … all from Jackson, all one way and all non-stop.”
The weekly service will make one round trip to Destin Executive Airport each Thursday, Friday, Sunday, and Monday.
The flight will include a route from Jonesboro Municipal Airport to Destin Executive Airport with one stop in Jackson.
Air Choice One began serving the Jackson community in 2015 with service to St. Louis, and expanded in 2017 with service to Atlanta.
Business Spotlight – Robert Eatman joins Town & Country REALTORS
Town & Country REALTORS is pleased to welcome Robert Eatman.
According to a press release from Lyndsay Best, a Digital Solutionist with B3 Creative Agency, Robert, a native of Humboldt, is a newly licensed REALTOR, and is excited to build his business in Jackson.
“Becoming a real estate agent gives me the opportunity to expand my social circle and to take advantage of all that Jackson has to offer,” Robert said. “I can’t wait to help the citizens of our city find their dream homes!”
Joey Hale, owner of Town & Country REALTORS believes Robert will be a valuable addition.
“He has such a warm, easygoing personality that will connect well with our clients,” Joey said. “I am excited to help him develop his business with us.”
Robert is poised to blend his education from Jackson State Community College and Union University with his fondness for Jackson in Town & Country’s family-style environment.
Shawn Daly leaving Toyota Bodine Jackson for new position in Mexico
Shawn Daly, General Manager for the Toyota Bodine plant in Jackson, is transferring to Group Manager – On-Site Partners (OSP) at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Guanajuato (TMMGT) in Mexico.
Shawn will ensure OSP readiness and milestone achievement, change point management, new project preparation and operation improvement. He will further manage OSP capability development, operational problem resolution and liaison between TMMGT and Toyota Motor North America.
“I got this offer about a month ago,” Daly said, “I’ll be Group Manager – On-Site Partners, which is about 1,500 employees … 12 different companies that do major parts of the manufacturing of the Toyota vehicle there – in this case – the Toyota Tacoma pickup truck.”
Shawn said production at the plant begins in December.
Dan Reiche, currently Assistant Group Manager at Bodine St. Louis has been promoted to Group Manager (General Manager) at the Bodine plant in Jackson.
At Toyota Bodine in the Airport Industrial Park, Shawn managed the company that produced the engine blocks for all of the Toyota and Lexus vehicles built in North America.
The company also produces transmission cases and housings.
West Alley Bar-B-Q & Smokehouse opens on Vann Drive
West Alley Bar-B-Q & Smokehouse, 1110 Vann Drive, has officially opened following a ribbon cutting ceremony.
“It’s been a long six months, but we’re very excited to be here,” said owner Christian Brantley, “Our kitchen is twice the size we had downtown, and we saw this as a prime location.”
West Alley Bar-B-Q & Smokehouse moved to Vann Drive from 215 W. Main St., after closing Nov. 28, 2018.
Business hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday.
A brunch will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.
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(PHOTO: Wes Harris, State Farm)
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