Jackson, MS

Picture this: It's Saturday, October 18, 2008. The weather should be crisp and mild, with no rain in sight. What can we do? How should we spend the day? How about taking a stroll at A Day On Duling in the historic Fondren District?

The community event will benefit both St. Luke's UMC and the Methodist Children's Home. Duling Avenue runs east-west between Old Canton Road and Highway 51.

There will be a shrimp boil, hamburgers and hot dogs for sale, a flea market, kid's events and live music. Bring the family and enjoy A Day on Duling Avenue.

Written and Published By Pat Starnes, McIntosh and Assoc., LLC

The Mississippi state fair is back in town, in Jackson, Mississippi. And, this year's state fair has over 60 rides to choose from, which may seem overwhelming for many eager fair lovers. So, North American Midway Entertainment has listed some of the most popular and fun rides that you may want to visit first.

The Crazy Mouse Spinning Roller Coaster made the top of the list. This fun roller coaster is made up of 1,200 feet of track that turns and dips in ways that make riders want to come back for more. You actually get to spin on this roller coaster.

You will find that the Mega Drop is the tallest ride at the fair, a 130 foot vertical drop. This ride is definitely not for the faint of heart. Some call it the tower of power. The ride lifts you 130 feet in the air, and hovers you high in the air for a few second before it plunges you to the ground.

On the Fireball, you can spin 360 degrees. For a cooler ride, you can hit the White Water Flume, but you are sure to get really wet. For those with a need for speed, you will find the Remix II and Himalaya are very fast rides. They are both sure to get your blood flowing. And, of course there's always the Ferris Wheel that will leisurely take you 85 feet in the air for great views of the Fairgrounds and surrounding areas.

For smaller kids, there is the famous Merry Go Round, along with the Wacky Worm Rollercoaster, and Rockin' Tug, which are all located in Kiddy Land.

The fair is open everyday until October 12^th. There will be special events days throughout the week such as Ride-A-Thon, Family Nights and Kids Day. Ride-A-Thon will be Friday, Oct. 10 from 10 p.m. until 1 a.m. For $20.00 you can ride unlimited rides. Family Night will be Tuesday Oct. 12 from noon until 11 p.m. and Wednesday from 4 p.m. until 11 p.m. For $25.00 you can ride unlimited rides. Kids Day will be Friday, Oct. 10 from noon until 6 p.m. Ride for one less coupon all day.

The fair also has competitive exhibits, live bands, talent competitions, senior day, fair talent day, the fetch club, game and craft booths, and the Mississippi trade mart. You can also get in the fair everyday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and enjoy lunch.

It's a great place to go and have fun. We hope you get to try and enjoy all the rides there.

So, you want to gather with friends after work or dine out after an especially challenging day? One of my favorite places to go in the Jackson Metro area is Char, which is located off I-55 at Northside Drive in Highland Village.

Char is well-known for their mouthwatering steaks and seafood. While the food at Char is scrumptious, my favorite spot is in the Piano Bar, where patrons can listen to smooth jazz by talented musicians. The décor is rich wood, high top tables, and a beautiful Steinway baby grand. The atmosphere is cozy, relaxing, and the service is superb. Listening to jazz and socializing with friends is a fantastic way to spend the evening.

Char offers an authentic New Orleans Jazz Brunch on Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. They also have private dining rooms suitable for private parties, meetings, etc.

If you've never experienced Char, you are in store for a pleasant surprise. Char may just become your new favorite place to be!

Char Restaurant, 4500 I 55 Frontage Rd N Jackson MS 39211

Written by Pat Starnes, McIntosh and Associates

If you are looking for something fun and educational to do with your family, why not take an afternoon and spend it at the neighborhood zoo? This weekend my best friend and I loaded up the grandkids, four girls under the age of nine, and headed for the Jackson Zoo. The weather was nearly perfect, a little on the warm side for late September. Fortunately there were enough trees to offer some welcome shade along the way.

We saw the usual lions, tigers, and bears (oh, my!) along with giraffes, zebras, elephants, turtles, poisonous frogs, a plethora of snakes, peacocks, and a flock of flamingos! At the Jackson Zoo, there is a playground, a carousel, and a concession stand with plenty of seating if you need to take a break and cool off. The girls were fascinated and everyone had a pleasant afternoon.

The Jackson Zoo is open daily until 5:00 p.m. and discount packages are available. For more information, visit http://www.jacksonzoo.org/index.html

Written by Pat Starnes, McIntosh and Associates http://PatStarnes.com

While many large cities and counties around the country are lowering their proposed 2009 budget, Hinds County is raising theirs. The current budget is $51.5 million. The new budget will be $56.7 million.

This is really good news for many residents in Hinds County. The proposed budget will include a $300 a month raise for over 280 county employees, and $1.7 million in raises for over 470 Sheriff's Department employees.

The proposed budget will also include a $1.85 million dollar tax rate decrease. One million is equal to $1 in taxes for every $1,000 of assessed property value. Property owners are expected to pay more this year since property values have increased.

Many cities around the nation are still seeing low property values. So, increased property values are good news for Hinds County residents. This goes to show that Hinds County is still a great place to call home.