Need a new newsroom in Vicksburg, Miss.

I can sum it up in two words -- untapped potential.
It's a typical small southern town (population about 50,000 if you count the outlying areas). There's people who have some vision and want it to be something more, and the old guard that's afraid of taking that next step and throws up roadblocks. Probably the biggest industry is tourism, thanks to a Civil War battlefield, so you've got some who make their living off that and want to preserve as much as they can of the past.

You have your share of idiots and rednecks, but it's never been as intolerant as other places in the state.
It's small enough that you'll get to know a lot of people and WILL run into most of them at Wal-Mart. People are friendly for the most part. There are nice areas and areas you don't go near without a kevlar shirt. Schools are decent, churn out some good students.
Location-wise, you're not near anything but you're not very far either. Eight hours from St. Louis and Atlanta, six from Dallas, 3 1/2 from New Orleans and Memphis. Close enough for a weekend getaway. In town, there are things we'd like to have -- there's a stunning lack of chain restaurants and no movie theater -- but that may add to the charm in some people's eyes.
On the whole, not a bad place.

And I know that was several paragraphs, but hopefully it gives you a better view

 

Before I read the rest of this, your first few sentences describe, almost exactly, Bennington, Vermont, and the struggles of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

 

It's really kind of depressing to see sometimes. Seems like every time someone comes up with a good proposal, it's shot down with the reasoning of "this area will never support it." Fortunately, there are some people here who press on anyway and are dragging the city kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

 

If I'm not mistaken, Vicksburg is the city that refused to acknowledge the Fourth of July as a holiday until the end of WWII because there was still so much residual bitterness from U.S. Grant sieging the shit out of them. What this has to do with working at the newspaper, I cannot tell you.

 

What I can tell you is that Sean Murphy, the SE in Vicksburg, is a helluva guy.

 

I'll second that.

 

I toured the Vicksburg battlefield when I was a kid and afterward we ate at a Bonanza steakhouse, as I remember. So there was that chain restaurant. But that was 25+ years ago.

 

I've heard that about Murphy, too.

My best description of Vicksburg: It's not the Delta and it's not Natchez, yet tries to be both.

Casinos aren't bad and Jackson's only an hour away. Decent size town. They have a small outlet mall, though I don't recall it being very good.

 

I'll throw another good word in for Sean. And it has nothing to do with him doing my yearly evaluation this week. ;D

As far as nightlife and the social scene in Vicksburg, there's not a whole lot. A couple coffee shops, the casinos, and that's about it. There's a good running community if you're into that, and other hobbies have their niches.
Plus, like TBF said, it's only an hour from Jackson. There's a lot more there. I guess I'd call Vicksburg "sleepy". Again, depending on your situation, that can be a plus or minus.

 

i'd go for the coffee shops.

 

I've heard that about Murphy, too.


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Yeah, but I heard that Bonker guy is a real ass. Legend has it once at an Alcorn presser he started spouting off something about Shaka Zulu and Genghis Khan. Don't know where that came from.

 

Yeah, but I heard that Bonker guy is a real ass. Legend has it once at an Alcorn presser he started spouting off something about Shaka Zulu and Genghis Khan. Don't know where that came from.
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Yeah, he's a real dingbat. At least he didn't ask the coach to "Do the Rip Saw" like some other folks on the beat