Guest Commentary Some highlights in the growth of Cleveland, Mississippi by Charles C. Jacobs Jr. (Part 3 of 3)

In the year 1948, Baxter Laboratories announced that it would build a plant in Cleveland. This announcement came at a crucial time for the economy of the Cleveland area.

Around this time, cotton was the mainstay of the Cleveland economy. Cleveland was surrounded by a large number of small farms that operated with mule power and with the labor of tenant farmers and their families who were located on these small farms and other farms in the area. But at this time, mechanization had begun and the farmers were going from mules to tractors and other expensive farm machinery and the cotton picker was coming on the scene which eliminated the need for much of the tenant labor on the farms. However, the small farms were not productive enough to stand the cost of this expensive machinery so the farms had to be larger in order to bear these expensive costs. The small farmers and their tenants constituted a large part of the business that made Cleveland a good business town and something had to be done to keep small farmers and tenants in the area and plants like Baxter Laboratories were the answer. The Baxter plant was widely sought by other communities in the south. A team of industry seekers from the Mississippi Power & Light Company helped to establish the contact with Baxter Laboratories and there were many local citizens who worked hard to get Baxter to come to Cleveland. One of the local citizens who did outstanding work in the location of Baxter was Mr. S. E. Kossman. At one stage in the negotiations, it was announced that some of the Baxter officials were coming to Cleveland to "look the community over." Mr. Kossman arranged for a reception for these individuals and he asked a number of the businessmen in the Cleveland area to come by and meet the Baxter people, and talk with them about the community. This move paid off and soon after Baxter announced that it would locate in Cleveland, and after bonds were issued for the construction of the plant, the plant opened in 1950. Many of the small farmers and their family members were employed at Baxter and they were not forced by economics to leave the area, This was one of the great steps forward in the development of Cleveland.

Another big step forward came around 1972 with the establishment by the Board of Supervisors of a "Port Commission" for Bolivar County. The Chamber of Commerce had a "Port Committee" which functioned for a number of years prior to 1972.

Around 1973, the Board of Supervisors established a "Bolivar County Advisory Commission" which included a number of individuals active in the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce and other prominent persons in the county. This commission was formed to advise the Board of Supervisors on the expenditure of federal monies that were becoming available under the revenue sharing program of the Nixon administration. This commission met with the Board of Supervisors in 1973, and urged them to adopt a resolution establishing a "Port Commission" for Bolivar County. The establishment of this Port Commission paved the way for obtaining state revenues from state ad valorem taxes collected on property in Bolivar County. Due to this, basic funding was thus obtained for the establishment of a port in Bolivar County. Charles Dean and Brother Wilson were two who were active in this project and the Port Committee set about obtaining lands on the unprotected side of the levee south of Rosedale, known as the "Log-Loader" area. Later with congressional help, funds were obtained to dredge out the old river take in front of the Log-Loader and established the slack-water port for Bolivar County. Sand was dredged out of the old river lake in front of the port and placed on the south side of the lake for the location of plants. A new plant oriented to river transportation was soon established there in the year 1979 known as Cives Steel.

Jimmy Sanders located a large grain elevator on this new port property from which grain is transported to other parts of the country.

The JAN - TRAN plant for marine construction followed, along with a port facility for the Bolivar County Port Authority. Then came the new JESCO plant in Rosedale. All of these facilities employ people who live in the Cleveland area and they have greatly contributed to the economic growth of Cleveland.

A significant development in agricultural practices took place in the early 1950's, which affected farmers in the Cleveland area. Prior to the 1950's, the Delta around Cleveland was mostly cotton land. A farmer named Ed Hill, from Merigold, planted a small tract of land in rice in the early 1950's and found that rice was a good crop for the area. This was particularly true on what is known as "buckshot" land (Yazoo-Clay) which was not particularly good for cotton, A number of farmers in the area went to this new crop and found it to be highly profitable over cotton. Around the same time, researchers at the Stoneville station began to develop soybeans as a money crop also. Dr. Hartwig developed soybeans that would not pop open or shed their beans with the first frost, and he developed other varieties that matured earlier that were resistant to diseases, and were more productive. Dr. Hartwig was a Yankee but he named his different varieties after Confederate Generals. These new crops replaced much of the cotton acreage around Cleveland.

Incidentally, the soybeans as improved by Dr. Hartwig are grown all over the United States- a monument should be erected to the memory of this man who influenced farming practices more than any other person.

With just over 100 days until the March 1 qualifying deadline for county, legislative and statewide elections, there seems to be little movement in the eight top ticket races and only minor excitement in the six district wide races.

All statewide Democratic elected officials: Gov Ronnie Musgrove (Batesville), Lt Gov Amy Tuck (Maben), Secretary of State Eric Clark (Smith County), Attorney General Mike Moore (Pascagoula), Treasurer Marshall Bennett (Tchula), Insurance Commissioner George Dale (Prentiss), Agriculture Commissioner Lester Spell (Richland) - as well as the lone Republican statewide official, Auditor Phil Bryant (Brandon) - are expected to seek reelection to their current posts next year.

GOVERNOR: Observers anticipate a tough race between Musgrove and Republican Haley Barbour (Yazoo City) for the Mansion, although both will likely face a party primary first. Jim Keenan (R-Jackson) has begun campaigning and putting up yard signs while Elder McLendon (D-Hattiesburg) has already qualified. State Flag activist John Thomas Cripps (I-Wiggins) announced in May of 2000 that he would be running for governor, and Sheriff Marvin Breazeale (I-Purvis) said last year he too was considering a run.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR: Tuck may see a hefty challenge from Congressman Ronnie Shows (Bassfield) in the Democratic Primary, as well as face a potential independently qualifying Senator Barbara Blackmon (D-Canton), and a Republican nominee, in the general election. Republican names floating about for the number two spot include Federal Surface Transportation Board Member Wayne Burkes (Clinton), Southaven Mayor Greg Davis and physician and activist Randy Russell (Jackson), among others. A recent column by Terry Cassreino in the Meridian Star also lists Agriculture Commissioner Lester Spell and Representative Steve Holland as potential challengers in the Democratic Primary.

ATTORNEY GENERAL: While he has been viewed as a potential challenger to Musgrove for the Democratic nomination for governor, and also thought to leave elected office for private practice, Attorney General Mike Moore is now expected to be leaning toward reelection. Republican names Andy Taggart (Flora) and Delbert Hosemann (Jackson) have both been mentioned as challengers to Moore. Political observers speculate Moore may choose to run for the US Senate in 2006 or 2008.

INSURANCE COMMISIONER: Speculation was that Dale would not seek reelection, but earlier this year he announced he would seek an eighth term next November. The trial lawyer lobby, upset with Dale's strong pro-tort reform position, has said they will seek a candidate against him in the Democratic Primary. One name floating around to fill this position has been that of Scott Ross (West Point), A Musgrove appointee to the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board. Republican Aaron "Lucky" Dupuy III (Jackson) has already qualified.

THE REST: Potential candidates are eyeing the posts of Clark, Bryant, Bennett and Spell but have yet to make much political movement on those runs.

PSC: All three Public Service Commissioners Nielsen Cochran (R), Michael Callahan (D), and Bo Robinson (D) appear to be seeking reelection. Cochran had been rumored as a potential lieutenant governor or governor candidate, but attempted to cap those rumors in his Neshoba County Fair Speech last year. Still, rumors persist.

MDOT: While Dick Hall (R) has also been mentioned as a candidate for top ticket races, he is expected to join Wayne Brown (D) in returning to their Transportation Commissioner seats. Meanwhile Northern District Transportation Commissioner Zack Stewart (D) is not running again. DeSoto County Supervisor John Caldwell (R) is campaigning for this spot. Other names rumored include Senators Bill Minor (D) and Alan Nunnelee (R) and former Representative Terry Brown (R).


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Round Up
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Despite losing reelection to the Supreme Court to a political newcomer - Gulfport Attorney Jess Dickinson - Chuck McRae may yet reach the position of Chief Justice. McRae is next in line for the post behind current Chief Ed Pittman. Court observers expect Pittman to retire before the end of his term in January of 2005, but McRae will remain on the Court until January of 2004. Supreme Court races are scheduled during years with Congressional races, meaning this was the last available race before McRae's term ended since the campaign could not be conducted next year. If Pittman does not remain on the court for an additional year, McRae would become Chief Justice. After McRae, the next judges in line for the top of the Bench are Justice Jim Smith and then Justice Bill Waller, Jr.

The Chip Pickering Campaign has put out a call to volunteers to return yard signs and posts to Republican Party Headquarters. The e-mail call says, "These signs are expensive and may certainly be used again. In addition, the metal stakes are expensive, so we want to recycle them, as well...Of course, we also want to collect these signs off of public property, because it is simply the right thing to do."

Republican control of the Senate spells good news for Mississippi's federal appropriations, and you can spell that news "TnT" for "Thad and Trent." Trent Lott will return to his position as Senate Majority Leader while Thad Cochran will assume the chairmanship of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and in two years will assume the chairmanship of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Until then, Cochran will also hold the chairmanship of the Agriculture subcommittee on the Senate Appropriations Committee giving him effective control over the federal farm bill for 2004 and beyond (though insiders note that Cochran has long held agricultural bi-partisan power in Washington, anyway).

Senator Trent Lott has moved quickly in the return to his "cat herding" job as future Majority Leader by giving assurances to Republicans that the new GOP majority would address issues including passing a ban on "partial birth abortion," as well as act on the nomination of Judge Charles Pickering to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Pickering's name was never withdrawn so Lott can act on the measure at his own schedule.

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Politics Online
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The Smith County Republican Party has a web site at www.angelfire.com/ms3/smithgop with local Republican events, links to political web sites, and a frequently updated column "A View from the Right." by Pete Howell.

The Madison County Republican Party is giving away four free Sugar Bowl tickets on their web site. To be eligible you must join the Madison County Republican Party before the drawing. You can join by clicking on the web site www.madisongop.org or by contacting any Madison County Republican Executive Committee member. The drawing will be in mid-December.

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Unofficial Election Results
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US Senate
Thad Cochran (R) 514,041 - 85%
Shawn O'Hara (F) 92,915 - 15%

1st District
Roger Wicker (R) 92,245 - 71%
Brenda Blackburn (F) 3,406 - 3%
Harold Taylor (L) 2,807 - 2%
Rex Weathers (D) 30,975 - 24%

2nd District
Bennie Thompson (D) 83,844 - 54%
Clinton LeSueur (R) 67,027 - 43%
Lee Dilworth (F) 4,690 - 3%

3rd District
Chip Pickering (R) 137,380 - 64%
Ronnie Shows (D) 74,720 - 35%
Harvey Darden (I) 944 - 0%
Jim Giles (I) 1,404 - 1%
Carroll Grantham (F) 492 - 0%
Brad McDonald (L) 744 - 0%

4th District
Gene Taylor (D) 118,835 - 75%
Thomas Huffmaster (F) 3,233 - 2%
Karl Mertz (R) 33,509 - 21%
Wayne Parker (L) 2,390 - 2%

State Supreme Court
Larry Buffington 58,551 - 25%
Jess Dickinson 125,318 - 52%
Chuck McRae 55,101 - 23%

Appeals District 1
Ralph Doxey 34,234 - 36%
Roger McMillin 61,939 - 64%

Appeals District 3
Jim Brantley 66,715 - 44%
Kenny Griffis 84,689 - 56%

Constitutional Amendment
Yes 210,288 - 38%
No 336,152 - 62%

Senate District 5
Christi Antillon-Webb 2,011 - 15%
Rodney Beasley 834 - 6%
Kenneth E. Floyd II 620 - 5%
Lin Floyd 197 - 1%
Cliff Long 921 - 7%
George Waddell 1,356 - 10% R!
Charles E. Walden 2,430 - 18%
William "Bill" White 697 - 5% R!
J.P. Wilemon Jr. 4,261 - 32%

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Movers and Shakers
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Former Neshoba County Sheriff Lawrence Andrew Rainey Sr died Friday November 8 of throat cancer. He was charged with civil rights violations relating to the deaths of James Earl Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner during 1964's "Freedom Summer." He was acquitted.

Shannon Mayor G.A. Herndon resigned last week due to health issues and private business demands. A special election will be held December 10 to fill this position and that of Alderman David Homan who vacated his post to be appointed Lee County fire coordinator. Qualifying deadline is November 29.

Representative Ed Blackmon Jr (D-Canton) was involved in a car accident on I-55 near the Nissan manufacturing plant last week. Raymond Britt III was injured while driving a work truck painting stripes and attaching reflectors to the roadway. Britt was treated and released from St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Congressman Ronnie Shows has scheduled shoulder surgery in December. According to Shows he slipped on the White House steps and tore his rotator cuff on October 16. He refrained from surgery during the recent race so as not to hinder the campaign with an unshakable hand while healing.

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Final Word - Lucky #55
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"I turned 55 last week and I told my firm in Washington that when I turned 55, I'd give up management. Little did I know I would seriously be considering becoming governor." - Haley Barbour, Bolivar Commercial: November 1, 2002

"It's fair to say I've been to 55 counties this year and will go to some more next week, that I am seriously considering running for governor but that I haven't made a final decision." - Haley Barbour, Clarion Ledger: November 9, 2002