Posted by picture_music101 (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 1:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

NOT AT ALL! After him running the town of Ferriday into the ground! Why should they pay his way anyway! No official should get by with that!

Posted by EnKiKur (Marty Ellerbe) on May 29, 2008 at 4:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Should the people bend over backwards, or forwards?

Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 5:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Why not, the Natchez Mayor went to Sweeden at the city's expense. Maybe Ferriday has plenty of "readily disposable funds" like Natchez seems to have.

Posted by ProNatchez (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 5:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Is it a one way ticket?

Posted by crystal0429 (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 6:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

No, the city shouldn't pay his way. If Mrs. Lloyd wants him to go see her daughter in the pageant, she should pay for it out of her own pocket!

Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 7:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If it is a one way ticket, then the citizens of Ferriday will probablt take up a collection and send him there forever.

This is the latest stupid idea I have seen. But Frank melton keeps one-upping everybody around, so let's just see what happens next.

Posted by justme (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 8 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This totally insane. There is no reason in the world why the town of Ferriday should pay for his "going out" party!!

Glen, as incoming mayor, I hope that you are maybe trying to do something to stop this. If not, there probably won't be any money left come July!!!

Posted by MamaC (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Give us the West/Sweeden story!!!! Why just pick on Ferriday. If the same thing's going on over here, tell it like it is...........................When did this trip happen and for what reason did West go there?

Posted by natchezsouthside (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Sweden.

Posted by momof1 (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Would somebody direct the ferriday officials to this survey so they can see what the PEOPLE want. After all, that's what there elected to do...represent the PEOPLE, not their own interests and insane agendas.

Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Why would anyone vote yes to this question?

Posted by dottie (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 10:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

THIS STILL STINKS.

Posted by lady_x98 (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 10:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree the thought of the town of Ferriday paying for such a trip is crazy, but Gene hasn't been all that bad as a mayor. From what I heard he helped Ferriday get out of the red! Town workers nolonger had to worry about being unable to cash their pay checks and being told the city did not have enough funds in there accout. Yes, Gene Allen has his hang ups, and and yes he has made some bad judgement calls, but his actions have been no worst than all the other political junk that goes on in other areas far and near.

Posted by buttercup26 (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

what does a pageant have to do with the town??

Posted by ntztransplant17 (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 11:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Are you kidding me? If this in some way would benefit the town of Ferriday that might be a different matter, but this is the stupidest proposal I have ever heard. I can't believe it was even brought to a vote and I don't blame whats-his-name for walking out of the meeting when this was put up for a vote. All of them should have walked out except, of course, for Mrs. Lloyd and Mayor Allen - the interested parties.

Posted by dixiemama (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 11:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Does anyone remember if the mayor of Natchez was furnished a free trip to the Miss America pageant when Lynda Lee Meade won in 1960?

Posted by Syoung (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 12:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The whole thing is a SCANDAL! If he used it and didn't tell anyone, and somebody found out afterwards, what would everyone think? He would be using town money for his own pleasures, vacations, partying. So, I guess he figures if he asks, we'll be ok with it? What a joke.

Posted by kpage1 (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 2:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Syoung...what did you say on the other story that was so bad they had to bleep you? Probably the truth. That's the way it goes, friend.

Gene Allen is simply ssssssscandalous! He's got nerve bringing this to a vote (without the entire board, yet legal because of the quorum thing). How can Ms. Lloyd face her constituents after this brouhaha? If I was her daughter, I'd be so ashamed of my mama's gall. Gall bladder...isn't that part of the liver that stores bile? Bile storer Lloyd. Secretes when necessary.

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 3:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

oh kpage! You are going to get it again friend! LOL

Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 10:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

MamaC, here is the story from the N.D. about Mayor West going to Sweden:

CITY CONTINUES TO EXPLORE RELATIONSHIP WITH SWEDISH CITY
Natchez Staff

Published Friday, September 9, 2005

NATCHEZ - Preliminary plans are for about 40 people, including some in tourism-related fields, to visit Natchez next spring and for at least Swedish entrepreneur to visit Natchez before the end of this year to explore setting up a business here.

That's according city Grants Coordinator Brent Brinegar, who visited the coastal city of Sundsvall, Sweden, the week of Aug. 21 with Mayor Phillip West and Tammi Gardner, a tourism commissioner and director of the Downtown Development Association.

City officials are working to form a "sister city" relationship with Sundsvall that will hopefully lead to more tourists visiting, and more entrepreneurs investing in, the Natchez area.

A similar relationship between Madison and Solleftea, Sweden resulted earlier this year in a regional office of the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce being located in Madison.

And Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler accompanied Swedish Gov. Gerhard Larsson to Natchez in April to visit with West, a visit that eventually resulted in plans for a Natchez group to come to Sweden.

During their August visit to Sundvall, a city of almost 95,000 people that serves as a regional center for timber and other industries, the Natchez delegation met with government and business officials about possible investment in and visits to Natchez.

Such investments could include establishing what Brinegar termed "destination-related service businesses" such as spas.

"It's all too preliminary at this point to give details," Brinegar said. "But at least one (business owner) is coming to Natchez Š before the end of the year. And we're in the process of arranging a trip for 40 people from Sweden - included some from the tourism industry - which we'd like to happen in March."

In Sweden, it's not unusual for people to vacation abroad each year for five weeks or more, Gardner said.

Swedish citizens "think nothing of traveling intercontinentally, and they're interested in trying to get businesses going here, too," she added.

For more information on Sundvall, visit the Web page
http://www2.sundsvall.se/EngMapp

Posted by mrgetitbig (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 10:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

well if you think gene is crooked glen is just as bad they used gene to make the town a lil money and then toss him out like trash so good luck to the people of ferriday with the new old crook

Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 10:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Also for MamaC:

MAYOR HEADED TO SWEDEN
Natchez Staff

Published Wednesday, August 31, 2005

NATCHEZ - A delegation from Natchez is visiting Sweden next week in an effort to establish a "sister city" relationship - and perhaps raise the locals' interest in visiting and investing in Miss-Lou.

Those leaving Sunday for Sweden include Mayor Phillip West, city Grants Coordinator Brett Brinegar and Tammi Gardner, director of the Downtown Development Association and member of the Convention Promotion Commission. They will return on Aug. 25.

The purpose of the trip "is to sell and market Natchez Š to develop relationships and contacts" that could lead to possible Swedish development in Natchez in the future, West said.

The region the group is visiting is a tourist destination itself and, as such, has much in common with Natchez, West said.

But he added the Swedish people are also frequent travelers as well, commonly taking as much as a one-month vacation annually.

"The mayor of Madison said a large delegation comes to Mississippi, and hopefully we persuade some of them to come to Natchez while they're here," West said.

Madison also has a sister city relationship with a Swedish town, one that has resulted in the location of a Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce office in Madison.

Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler accompanied Swedish Gov. Gerhard Larsson to Natchez in April to visit with West, a visit that eventually resulted in plans for a Natchez group to come to Sweden.

Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 10:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Where were the results of the trade-offs? Was there a business established here by the trade reps of Sweden?

Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on May 29, 2008 at 11:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Please tell me where the spas are. Just another example of waste from the tourist industry. I wonder how much advertising could have been purchased with what it cost to fund this trip. What a joke!