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Goodbye, Bulldog Deli, hello Sweet Peppers...

I remember going to the Bulldog Deli when I was a freshman at State, and it was always a great place.

Now, after all these years, it's changing its name, taking on the corporate identity of the restaurant concept it helped launch – Sweet Peppers.

Here are highlights of a press release from the Eat With Us Group, the parent company of Sweet Peppers, Bulldog Deli, Harvey's, Park Heights, etc.:

The restaurant that inspired the successful Sweet Peppers Deli franchise is now taking the Sweet Peppers name.

“We knew that eventually Bulldog Deli would change to take the Sweet Peppers Deli name when developing the Sweet Peppers concept. The ownership is the same as it has been since 1984, and the only difference will be the name and the sign,” said Vice President Robin Fant.

Starkville will now boast two Sweet Peppers Deli restaurants – the one at 904 Highway 12 West and the Bulldog Deli location at 702 University Drive.

“Where there are a lot of emotional ties to the history of the name Bulldog Deli, we are excited about becoming a Sweet Peppers Deli. As always we will have the same great food and service, just a different name,” said Fant. “We are proud of our history, and you will still see elements of Bulldog Deli throughout the restaurant. Starkville and MSU have been great to us over the years, and we hope they embrace this positive change with us.”

“Bulldog Deli will always be a part of the family as the fast-casual Deli arm of the Eat With Us Group,” states John Bean, president/CEO. “This move makes a lot of sense with the growth and brand recognition in the state and throughout the Southeast.”

The widely enjoyed Sweet Peppers Deli franchise has its beginnings in 1984, when Robin Fant bought the 8-table Bulldog Deli. Fant quickly expanded the menu and cultivated an upbeat, service-oriented atmosphere that drew an audience ranging from college students to business people. In 1996, the popular eatery moved into a renovated, expanded former gas station, retaining the building’s brick exterior and working garage doors.

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In a first-of-a-kind partnership in the nation, C Spire Wireless is partnering with Mississippi State and Ole Miss and the schools' social media rewards programs.

From C Spire:

Fans and participants of Hail State and Ole Miss Social Rewards programs will now be able to interact and engage with C Spire Wireless to earn additional rewards and new giveaways. Additionally, C Spire’s participation gives these already successful rewards programs a new and unique mobile element – allowing fans to engage using their mobile wireless device.

The social media partnership between C Spire Wireless and the two Mississippi universities is the first of its kind in the nation and will be officially announced during the MSU-Jackson State football game in Starkville and the Ole Miss-Central Arkansas game in Oxford on Saturday.

With the addition of C Spire Wireless to Ole Miss Social Rebels and Hail State Social Rewards, fans will be able to earn more points to redeem for great rewards by interacting with the wireless provider and using C Spire’s personalized network to engage with the schools.

By using social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, participants will now be able to earn rewards simply by checking into a C Spire Wireless retail location and C Spire fan events on Foursquare, comment on a Facebook or Twitter post, “like” the C Spire Facebook page or “like” a comment on the company’s Facebook page.

In addition to the Mississippi State and Ole Miss prizes and rewards already offered to fans, C Spire will also be providing amazing rewards like new wireless devices, accessories and more

C Spire Wireless is also making it possible for Ole Miss and Mississippi State fans to engage in the games socially.  During Mississippi State and Ole Miss football games, fans can tweet photos that can be seen on the stadium jumbotron.  Additionally, fans can request songs, vote for the player of the game and even tweet in their seat sections for a chance to win additional points and prizes.

Silver Airways has begun online ticket sales, with flights between Tupelo and Atlanta starting Oct. 1, as planned.

Passengers going to the airline’s website at gosilver.com looking to book a flight after Oct. 1 to Atlanta will be directed to call Silver’s reservations number at (800) 499-7450.

Soon, online reservations through Silver will be available, however.

For now, the best option might be to use online travel sites like Kayak, Travelocity, Expedia, etc.

Passengers should note that getting a flight through Silver will see the reservation made through Island Air. The reason is that Silver has an agreement with Island Air for access to the airline industry’s global distribution system. A passenger’s itinerary will say “Island Air,” but Silver Aircraft – in this case, Saab 340 turboprops – will be used.

Airport execuitve director Josh Abramson said the process was similar to what’s going on in Tupelo now. Passengers fly on Pinnacle Airlines, which has a codeshare with Delta, and their reservations will say “Delta.”

For more information about Silver, visit the Tupelo Regional Airport's website (click here)

Baggage will be handled at the airports like it is now, with passengers not having to worry about getting their bags until their final arrival point.

See more in Thursday's Daily Journal.

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WTVA has saved the day!

And college football fans in Northeast Mississippi – along with “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Modern Family” fans – can breathe a sigh of relief.

WTVA will begin broadcasting ABC programming beginning Saturday, ABC and the station announced today.

Earlier this month, WKDH said it would stop broadcasting ABC at midnight Friday after its owner did not renew a licensing agreement.

WTVA will broadcast ABC programs on digital channel 9.2.

It will continue to broadcast NBC programming as well.

WTVA 9.2 also will provide local news coverage.

Otha Brandon, director of government relations for Comcast, said viewers should see a “seamless transition” from WKDH to WTVA.

So here's where you can find NBC and ABC, starting Saturday:

• Comcast will carry the ABC feed on Channel 7 (HD Channel 431) and NBC on channel 6 (HD 432)

• On DirecTV, WTVA’s NBC programming will continue on channel 9, while ABC will be on channel 10.

• On Dish, NBC is on channel 9 and ABC on channel 45.

• On MetroCast, NBC is on channel 9 (HD 709) and ABC will be on channel 6 (HD 706).

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Tupelo-based Hyperion Technology is testing new equipment during Tropical Storm/Hurricane Isaac.

Here's a press release from the company:

In anticipation that Tropical Storm Isaac will develop into a hurricane over the next several days, Tupelo-based Hyperion Technology Group is deploying newly developed sensors in the path of the storm should it make landfall along the Gulf Coast.

The new technology called “eyeSpy” is designed to monitor water surge level data and wind speed data along with photo images of the storm as it is occurring. The system transmits all the data back to authorities and a central monitoring station via the cellular network or will automatically switch to satellite mode to ensure continuous communications should the cell phone network fail during the storm.

Hyperion will deploy several two-man teams in order to best target the landfall location of the storm with hopes of accurately targeting the area northeast of the eye of the hurricane where the storm-surge and winds are the most severe.

“We are very excited about this technology,” said Hyperion President Geoff Carter, “The purpose is two-fold: first, it allows authorities to assess the damage and begin planning rescue and recovery efforts before they are able to get back into the damaged areas, and second, it will maintain an accurate record of how the damage did occur in order to assist municipalities, businesses, homeowners, and insurance companies resolve insurance claims more quickly and accurately.”

Hyperion intends to have several engineers on the road and heading toward the coast in the early hours of Monday morning led by severe-storm expert Tim Samaras. 

“We are very proud to have a world-class researcher such as Tim on our team,” said Carter, “He brings expertise that is second to none especially with the development of sensors that are to survive in such harsh conditions.” 

Samaras is featured in this month’s National Geographic Magazine for his groundbreaking research with high-altitude lightning.

Hyperion Technology Group is a Mississippi corporation based in Tupelo that specializes in technology development for military, research and corporate customers.

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Last night the Tupelo City Council rejected a local match for a Federal Aviation Administration grant to be used improvements at Tupelo Regional Airport.

A recap from the Daily Journal's Emily Le Coz:

The City Council on Tuesday rejected a $1.8 million federal grant for airport improvements, saying Tupelo Regional Airport Director Josh Abramson failed to provide information about the grant in a timely manner.

Abramson, however, said he had told the council about the grant several times prior to Tuesday’s meeting, including at least once last week. He said the grant’s rejection jeopardizes a five-year capital improvement plan and puts the airport at risk of deterioration.

Council members said they had too many concerns about the plan and the airport in general to approve the grant.

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This morning, authority Chairman Ty Robinson said the five-member board and the council will meet soon to hopefully resolve their differences.

"The next step is that I've asked for a work session with the council,"he said. "I want us (the airport authority) to answer all the questions that the council might have. Some of it came up last night; the council had some concerns and we want to alleviate them.

"We want to be as transparent as possible. We want to do some bridge-building. I think we have some disconnect. ... we need to reconnect."

Airport Executive Director Josh Abramson asked for a $46,000 match for the $1.8 million FAA grant, but it was voted down 5-2.

Robinson said the council was presented with the information during the airport budget request last month. Records show that meeting ws held July 10.

Last night was Robinson's second meeting to attend where the information was again presented, he said.

"To be fair to both sides, I can see where some of this might be considered last-minute," he said. "There are so many pieces that go together to maximize what we can do."

Robinson said, "this is Tupelo's airport, not the airport authority's," and added that everyone was working to do what was best for the entire city.

"So we've got some bridge-buildinng to do and to work on that disconnect," he reiterated. "I'm a positive person and I'm optimistic we can get this done."

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We'll have more as it develops. Read Thursday's Daily Journal for more.

Welcome to our new colleagues at the Mississippi Business Journal in Jackson, which joins the growing Journal Inc. team!

From the MBJ:

Tupelo-based Journal Inc. has announced it has acquired the assets of Mississippi Business Journal, the state’s leading business publication, from Minnesota-based The Dolan Company.

Journal Inc. CEO/President/Publisher Clay Foster announced the completion of the deal this week to the leadership and staff of the Mississippi Business Journal.

“We are excited to welcome the MBJ as the newest team members of Journal Inc.,” Foster said. “The MBJ is a great institution and a powerful brand in the state, and we look forward to working closely with the MBJ team to make the products and services provided even better for our customers.

“We believe in the future of the MBJ, and we believe the future is one that holds tremendous growth potential.”

Based in Jackson, the 33-year-old weekly newspaper has a print circulation of 5,400 and averages more than 70,000 unique visitors monthly to its website, msbusiness.com.

The MBJ also publishes the quarterly Construction Mississippi, the quarterly Come See Us and a dozen other special publications on technology, law, real estate, small business, education and health care.

The MBJ produces the soon-to-be 30-year-old annual Mississippi Business and Technology EXPO and also publishes the annual NEXT: A Guide to Life After High School, distributed statewide to 40,000 high school students in partnership with the Mississippi Department of Education.

In addition to its msbusiness.com, the company also operates web sites msnext.com, bestplacestoworkinms.com, and a daily news bulletin delivered by email to approximately 3,200 business subscribers.

Foster says Alan Turner will remain as the publisher of the MBJ. Additionally, there will be no changes in the leadership structure at the Mississippi Business Journal.

Foster says the MBJ will retain its staff and will remain in its current offices at 200 North Congress Street, Suite 400 in Jackson.

Privately held Journal Inc.’s flagship operation is the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, a 35,000 circulation daily newspaper in Tupelo. With the MBJ, Journal Inc. will now publish 20 weekly newspapers, The company is unique in that it is owned by the nonprofit CREATE Foundation.

It seems those low-water use, high-pressure toilets can also be a danger.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer:

In June, the Flushmate III was declared a “laceration risk.” The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall notice for more than 2.3 million of the water-conservation devices after learning that 304 units had blown up. The explosions shattered the commodes, caused home flooding, and, in some cases, sent porcelain shrapnel flying.

A San Francisco lawyer filed a lawsuit earlier this month against Flushmate, owned by Sloan Valve Co. The complaint seeks more than $5 million in damages.

The systems are designed to conserve water.

A photo on safety commission website SaferProducts.gov shows just what kind of damage the explosions can cause. The back of an alleged victim is held together with 20 surgical staples.

The recalled systems – rectangular, black, injection-molded plastic vessels – were manufactured during a 10 1/2-year span from October 1997 to February 2008. The 16-digit serial number of those units begins with 101497 (Oct. 14, 1997) and continues through 022908 (Feb. 29, 2008). The units are installed in toilets made by Kohler, American Standard, and a number of other manufacturers.

Flushmate spokesman Paul Deboo said he could not comment on the number, or extent, of bodily injuries caused by the bursting Flushmates.

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New Albany gets the prize for the lowest gas price today in our survey of gas stations around the area, at $3.29.

Fulton is next lowest at $3.32, and between the two cities on Highway 78 is Sherman, at $3.33.

The highest price is found in Oxford at $3.51.

Other gas prices:

• Amory: $3.39
• Belden: $3.35
• Booneville $3.39
• Corinth: $3.35
• Pontotoc: $3.46
• Ripley: $3.39
• Sam's Club: $3.37 (member price)
• Starkville: $3.45
• Tupelo: $3.42

Elvis and Americana is a new branding concept the CVB will be developing in the next year.

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From business reporter Carlie Kollath Wells, who sat in on the Tupelo Convention & Visitors Bureau board meeting, we find out that the CVB will be realigned.

No jobs will be lost; in fact, a new employee will handle public relations and international sales.

Click here for a link to Carlie's story in today's Daily Journal.

An excerpt:

Neal McCoy, executive director of the Tupelo CVB, said current staffers won’t lose their jobs if the realignment is approved at the September board meeting.

“There’s plenty of work for everybody,” he said. “Nobody’s losing a job. Nobody’s taking a cut in pay.”

The CVB’s new target audience includes corporate meetings, association meetings, small groups with less than 30 people, team sports and large groups that will come on Sundays.