(Jackson, MS mayor) Melton pulls over school buses to get a hug

[Maddy McCall]

By Cathy Hayden
[e-mail]


Jackson Mayor Frank Melton said he impulsively asked his police escort to pull four Callaway High buses over on I-220 on Friday afternoon because he needed a hug.

The buses were taking students home from school, about 4:30 p.m.

"It's been such a stressful two weeks," Melton said. "I wanted to shake their hands. I wanted to touch them. That's all it was. ... I went through the buses and shook their hand and hugged them and told then how proud I was of them."

Melton said students saw him out their windows and waved before he had the buses stopped. "I told the kids to have a great weekend and a safe weekend," he said. "I didn't do anything stupid or illegal."

He said there was no safety hazard. The drivers pulled the buses off the interstate on the right median.

More at: http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060504/NEWS/605040377/1263

:silly:

The mayor of Mississippi's largest town is being investigated by the state Attorney General for his controversial and unorthodox leadership. The latest revelation is that he's going on police raids with a holstered gun on his hip--which he was not licensed to carry. There's more...so much more to the story, if you have time to Google it and read.

[LiberteToujours]

1. Uhh... creepy?

[WildClarySage]

2. He wanted to touch them? That's illegal in here in WV, isn't it illegal

in Mississippi also?

[Rowdyboy]

3. Frank is getting weirder every day....There are rumors that his interest

in kids runs deeper than mere concern. I really like him and hope that he can keep from imploding for the rest of his term.

[Maddy McCall]

4. What?!

I haven't heard those rumors! Did they start before this bus thing? If so, the bus incident certainly doesn't help him.

If you don't want to post it publicly, please PM me--I'm curious about what you guys are hearing up there.

Hope you're having a good spring and that your garden's putting out some fine veggies. :hi: :loveya:

[Rowdyboy]

10. First, let me say that I don't believe the rumors....

However, one of my best friends is a very active member of the black political community in Jackson. He says there have been rumors for years, but admits there isn't a shred of evidence to prove anything. I think its comes primarily from people who dislike the fact that Melton has such strong support in the white community. The bus incident is simply too bizarre to understand-I mean, he's getting seriously strange.

Even worse is his relationship with the DA, Faye Peterson. He thinks she's incompetant (opinions vary, I tend to agree with him) and says he won't work with her. Instead, he'll work through AG Hood's office. Then Hood's office says "Huh? We cain't do that" Its rapidly turning into a farce.

Spring has been beautiful and the asparagus was VERY fruitful. Actually, I just quit cutting it. Tomatoes are jumping, poppies are blooming, and my Duetzia is very, very fuzzy....



Life is good!

[Bake]

12. Frank is rapidly becoming a laughingstock

We've got major problems with VIOLENT crime in Jackson and Frank's out with the SWAT team, closing down strip clubs.

Bake
Jackson, MS

[Rowdyboy]

14. Bake, as a lawyer, have you had dealings with Faye Peterson?

I'm very interested in the opinions of those in the field of law as to her abilities.

I totally agree that Frank is becoming an embarrassment. He seems determined to alienate EVERYONE and is well on his way to doing just that. I fully expect Marshand Crisler to be the next mayor of Jackson. The only question at this point is will Melton even finish out his term.

What a crying shame. I really had high hopes for the man.

[Bake]

16. The consensus around here:

Faye is a good trial lawyer and a good prosecutor. She and Frank have been at each other's throats forever -- long before now. She got a bad rap over the recent murder case ("Batman," acquitted), which she felt she had to pursue for political reasons, and which was not a strong case going in. So I guess you could say, good layer, not so hot as a politician.

Bake

[TacticalPeek]

5. Turn off the cameras

and his behavior will moderate, IMO. Or his head will explode, whichever comes first.

[MrPrax]

8. LOL...

thx...'good diagnosis, doctor'...the patient is over-stimulated

[Fierce]

6. If that happened to my kid's bus,

...I'd be pissed. Really, really pissed.

[Mojorabbit]

7. You know what is sad

is that it could be a sweet story in my I wish people were trustworthy and come froma place of honesty fairy tale world. Sigh. A shame the real world has to intrude.

[booksenkatz]

11. That was exactly my reaction too, Mojorabbit

Without knowing anything about this fellow or his odd history, I was sort of hoping/wishing that this was just a story about misplaced overenthusiasm. However, it's kind of nice for me to realize that I still possess a molecule of Pollyanna now and then, after the past 5 years!

[mopinko]

15. sad here too

sad to think you are not allowed to hug kids any more. it sounds like the kind of thing that could really make an impression on a kid.
sounds like maybe the guy's orbit is decaying.

[Maddy McCall]

9. Proof that Olbermann reads DU. Melton was his "worser" tonight!!

:woohoo:

This wasn't on the wire. It was just printed in the local Jackson paper...and it ends up on Olbermann...

:bounce:

[DS1]

13. Did anyone double-check to make sure it wasn't Michael Jackson

in a suit?